I have a new 3320 I bought this fall. The I-match listed for $244 but got it for about 15% off that when I bought it as a package deal. The I-match works on my MX-6, JD weight box and Frontier blade. I am interested in a finish mower but everything I have seen is not compatable with the I-match. Even the Frontier rear finish mowers require a conversion kit that will set you hand a couple hundred.
Price Check Price check for cat.1 imatch
- Thread starter GreatWhitehunter
- Start date
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rmonio
Platinum Member
Well, Kahuna, at least your JD Ballast Box fit - I had to have mine modified. 
The kit for the Buhler Farm King was $75 and took about 15 minutes to install. The Farm King is a good mower and I've been pleased with it's performance overall. It might be something to look into (it was sold to me by my JD Dealer originally when I got the 4600).
Hopefully - someday - the standard will be truly adopted by all the players on the market for these units. For the time being, however, you can usually make do with the Speeco sleeve/bushing kits from TSC/Fleet Farm/etc. and make things fit. The extra cost is worth the benefits with the i-Match.
-Bob
The kit for the Buhler Farm King was $75 and took about 15 minutes to install. The Farm King is a good mower and I've been pleased with it's performance overall. It might be something to look into (it was sold to me by my JD Dealer originally when I got the 4600).
Hopefully - someday - the standard will be truly adopted by all the players on the market for these units. For the time being, however, you can usually make do with the Speeco sleeve/bushing kits from TSC/Fleet Farm/etc. and make things fit. The extra cost is worth the benefits with the i-Match.
-Bob
I am assuming the problem with the I-match not fitting a finish mower is incompatability with the top link. I can put a bushing on the bottom pins which should already be the proper distance apart if it is a catergory 1. How do the modifications work on your Farm King to make your I-match compatable?
Is there a standard Cat 1 draft bar distance? It would seem to me if I were making attachments that I would follow some standard like the electronics industry does.
I don't have any non-Deere attachments to try with mine. I got a used BB and 'I'match with a bushing kit from my dealer and saved about 1/3 if I remember.
I don't have any non-Deere attachments to try with mine. I got a used BB and 'I'match with a bushing kit from my dealer and saved about 1/3 if I remember.
rmonio
Platinum Member
@Kahuna - you nailed it. The issue was indeed with the Top link as the Farm King has a swing connection for the Top Link. The quick-hitch kit provides new stabilizer bars for the back and front that lock the "swing" portion down and puts a new Top Link Pin in where the swivel used to be (this is hard to describe - but if you go look at the website for Buhler (Finishing Mowers - Buhler Industries Inc.) you'll see what I'm referring to). Again, it was very easy to do and setup.
I also made one other modification on the lift pins as I wanted to use the Speeco sleeves on them. To do so, I had to get new lift pins as the one's supplied by Buhler had "shoulders" on them that would not allow me to mate the sleeves appropriately. Once changed out, the sleeves fit and now I have sleeves on all of my attachments except for my Frontier BB which uses Bushings.
All in all it wasn't a big deal to make the modifications and I'm well pleased with the results.
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@Rob, I believe there are standards associated with the Cat1/Cat2 stuff. Since my equipment has been sourced through Deere, I haven't had to spend much time looking into the other stuff. I did have to play with different size bushing to move from Cat1->Cat2, etc.. but for lift pin spacing I didn't find this to be an issue. When I had my Ballast Box modified it was to get the top link connection raised so the i-Match top lift could engage appropriately (the older boxes didn't allow this). I'm sure there are plenty of other folks with more experience on TBN who can quote you rank and verse on what/where the standard is/might be...
-Bob
I also made one other modification on the lift pins as I wanted to use the Speeco sleeves on them. To do so, I had to get new lift pins as the one's supplied by Buhler had "shoulders" on them that would not allow me to mate the sleeves appropriately. Once changed out, the sleeves fit and now I have sleeves on all of my attachments except for my Frontier BB which uses Bushings.
All in all it wasn't a big deal to make the modifications and I'm well pleased with the results.
----------------------------
@Rob, I believe there are standards associated with the Cat1/Cat2 stuff. Since my equipment has been sourced through Deere, I haven't had to spend much time looking into the other stuff. I did have to play with different size bushing to move from Cat1->Cat2, etc.. but for lift pin spacing I didn't find this to be an issue. When I had my Ballast Box modified it was to get the top link connection raised so the i-Match top lift could engage appropriately (the older boxes didn't allow this). I'm sure there are plenty of other folks with more experience on TBN who can quote you rank and verse on what/where the standard is/might be...
-Bob
GalwayBoy
Bronze Member
Kahuna said:
Kahuna, I encountered the same situation with my Woods rd7200 RFM.
Woods makes a kit that swaps out the rear struts with chains enabling the unit to float. I forget the price, but more than I wanted to spend. I ended up buying a Speeco floating top link bracket for about twenty dollars. Simple install. I removed the cotter and pin from the QH, and the adapter fits right over the QH weldments. Inserted a longer pin and it was done. Used the pin I took out to move the hook engagement point on my Land Pride rake.
I posted a couple of times on the subject when I was trying to weigh my available options
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/jd-owning-operating/86441-woods-rfm-used-imatch.html
Hope this helps.
Jon
andrewj
Platinum Member
mine's for sale - 200 bucks, it is cat I and my tractor is Cat II! I tried bushings, just not for me. would love for someone to pick it up, too heavy to ship...pm me.