Quick Easy Hitch

   / Quick Easy Hitch #1  

confederatemule

Silver Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2009
Messages
137
I have a 1977 year model 255 Massey Ferguson with category-1 three point hitch. As time has gone by it has become harder and harder to connect to implements. It is no fault of the tractor.
I am searching for the best quick easy way to attach to implements for this tractor, and me. I need the hitch to be able to handle all of the weight that the tractor can handle. The price is an important factor in this search also.
I could sure use some opinions from y'all.

Thanks.

Mule
 
   / Quick Easy Hitch #2  
Are your implements QH compatible? If not can you modify them yourself? Do you really want it to connect all 3 points or are you OK with getting off your tractor to connect your top link?

Every quick hitch that I am aware of will move your connection point back several inches (4”+) which brings up 2 issues.
1) PTO lengths (being too short)
2) you weight lifting capacities will be reduced as your lift/connection point is now further from your tractor.

There are PTO extenders available to attach to your tractor’s PTO stub, but this changes the angles when raised and lowered (so does the extra distance from adding a QH) but bigger concern is the potential leverage force it places on the PTO stub.

Many of the full frame QH’s will actually be a Cat2 hitch and you will need bushings for the lower pins for it to work Others even the ones such as Pat’s QH are rated as Cat1 and should meet those weight ratings.

Some folks like the Euro style hooks. I have no knowledge related to these. I understand (and may be wrong) that your ball joints must be removed and the hooks welded on to the lower arms. Accurate measuring and cutting would seem to be critical to me as even slightly differing lower arm lengths changed the lifting force on the implement from one side to other. Again I may be off in my thoughts! Again with these as I understand you must get off your tractor to connect the top link. You may not have PTO length issues or lost lifting capacity with these.
Can you modify your lower lift arms if required.

Just some info in my search from a few years ago when I went with a style similar to Pat’s QH. I do nit want to call a name for mine because I do not remember. I have not checked recently but at the time list price was about $20 lower than Pat’s, but I found a heck of a sale (almost 1/2 price). Having seen Pat’s personally since, for $20-40 I would do Pat’s just for the latching system difference over years and years of use. Mine have a 2 pin latching system per arm. Not a huge deal years later as I was willing to get off to connect the top link (only one implement is QH compatible and necessary mods to others would mean each implement would require its own top link setting due to non-standard heights of top links and frames for top link or complete rebuilds of top link frames.
 
   / Quick Easy Hitch #3  
Standard tractor cat 1 Quick Hitches need all cat 1 implement top link and lower pins to be adapted to cat 3 size. Bushing adaptors are easily available. There are some non-standard QHs that use cat 1 lower pin and top link sizes for the implements. These non-standard QHs must still comply to the 3 pt dimensions listed below. Your tractor can lift 3,800 pounds and a HD hitch will be needed. Top link adaptors are available for non-compliance tops but the bottom pin spacing must be correct. Attached are dimensions.

Many of the off brand QHs are the same Chinese hitch with different labels. It will be difficult to find a HD cat 1 QH rated at your tractors 3,800 pounds 3 pt lift but if the HP rating matches probably a non-issue.

Screenshot_20200827-121334_Chrome.jpg

SmartSelect_20201014-103231_Squid.jpg

SmartSelect_20201014-103923_Gallery.jpg
 
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   / Quick Easy Hitch #4  
I went with Pat's Quick Hitch as I have implements of different widths and didn't care to start modifying and welding. I did need a longer PTO shaft as well as a longer top link. In short more was involved than anticipated. On the other hand I've been quite pleased with my choice. I never realized changing implements could be so painless.
 
   / Quick Easy Hitch #5  
Personally, I found the quick hitch is characterized by mixed success. Some of my implements converted very well to a quick hitch, while others mightily struggled to fit the hitch. About 70% of my implements are now easily picked up and moved with my Woods QH. The remaining 30% are still traditional 3pt hitch implements. That's just the way it worked out for me.

All my original PTO shaft lengths were just fine for use with a quick hitch, it was mainly the top link area that struggled to connect on those implements that failed to adapt to a QH.

Implements that converted easily to quick hitch were my rotary cutter, landscape rake, box blade, spreader and tiller.

Implements that struggled were my wood chipper, stump grinder and post hole digger. I still use normal 3pt hookup for these.

Pat's Quick Hitch

Pat's Easy Change with Stabilizer Bar - Best Quick Hitch System On The Market – Flexible, Durable and Affordable (RED CAT #1): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific




Quick Hitch Bushing Kits

Amazon.com : TerraKing Quick Hitch Bushing Kit - Category 1 [TK9529] : Garden & Outdoor
 
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