Quick Hitches quick hitch bushings help

[Luke'sScreenName]

Thinking about going to down the Quick Hitch road for my 3pt implements. The bushing are expensive and I have 7 cat1 implements to setup and don't want to move bushings around.
1) where is the cheapest place to buy bushings?
2) I've read in another thread that instead of the expensive QH bushings to can nestle a cat1-2 bushing in a cat2-3 bushing and get the correct diameter. Is this true and what's the disadvantage to this?
3) you only need bushings for the lift arms not the top link, correct?
4) why is QH designed to need bushings in the first place?

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

BTW, I'm looking at the land pride/speedco/harbor freight style QH

 

[ovrszd]

I don't use the high dollar QH bushings. I just buy simple spacer bushings at the local Tractor Supply store. Can't remember cost, but it's pretty cheap. I carry a pair in the tractor tool box.

Yes, you can double stack the cheaper bushings.

If you want a tight fit, you need bushings in the top link also.

The issue of needing bushings has been debated many times here on TBN. Some will say it's a wear point. Some will say the QH has the ability to hitch to different sized implements if needed. Some will say it's easier to hitch to a CAT I implement with a CAT II sized QH hook. Take your pick.

Lastly, are you sure the Land Pride/Speedco/Harbor Freight QH is the same one??

 

[gwdixon]

Tractor Supply has reasonably priced bushings. However, I found them a bit cheaper at a Deere dealer. About $3 or less each.

If you try to put a CAT 1 implement on a CAT 2 or 3 Quick Hitch you will need a bushing (s) for the implement. However, on the QHs you are considering, they are stuck in CAT 1 dimensions so there won't be any hooking up to CAT 2 unless the implement is modified to CAT 1 width.

I would NEVER recommend a hitch with no adjustment for width. But then, my implements are CAT 1, CAT 2, and some homemade to CAT ?.

Pat's Quick Connect will hook up to just about anything. If you only have CAT 1 implements, you can buy hooks that size and not need any bushings.

My Pat's is CAT 2 and I changed the lift pins on my CAT 1 implements to CAT 2 lift pins. Once again, no bushings needed except for the CAT 2 top link.

What I am in the process of doing is plasma cutting a CAT 3 hole in the implement's top hole and welding in a CAT 2 top link adapter. Then it is perfectly set up for CAT 2.

I know this is too much information so pick out what you want.

 

[bcp]

2) I've read in another thread that instead of the expensive QH bushings to can nestle a cat1-2 bushing in a cat2-3 bushing and get the correct diameter. Is this true and what's the disadvantage to this?

Disadvantage is they can't sell you expensive bushings.



Bruce

 

[ovrszd]

If you try to put a CAT 2 implement on a CAT 1 Quick Hitch you will need a bushing for the implement.

Actually it's just the opposite. If you try to put a CAT I implement on a CAT II hitch you will need a bushing for the implement. If the width would work, you could hitch a CAT II implement to a CAT I QH without a bushing. But I've never saw the width work out.

And as discussed above, CAT I QH's are built with the lower hooks at CAT II size. So, again, if you want a tight fit, you will always need a bushing.

My CAT II QH has CAT III sized lower hooks.

I used a Pat's on a CAT I tractor. It's a great product for a tractor without extendable lower links. But it's not even close to a QH. Shouldn't even be considered as the same type of tool. There is not physical way possible to pick up a 3pt attachment with a Pat's without leaving the tractor seat. In my experiences, extendable lowers are just as easy to use as Pat's. But to each their own.

 

[murphy1244]

Northern tool had the for 12 bucks a set. I have a land pride cat 1 hitch which uses a cat 3 bushing .

 

[ovrszd]

Northern tool had the for 12 bucks a set. I have a land pride cat 1 hitch which uses a cat 3 bushing .

Murph, I've heard of that but never saw it, jump two CAT's.

 

[zoedog2012]

Northern tool had the for 12 bucks a set. I have a land pride cat 1 hitch which uses a cat 3 bushing .

on sale at northern now $ 10.99

 

[murphy1244]

Murph, I've heard of that but never saw it, jump two CAT's.

Easier for them to make a quality locking device on the pins. Bigger is better, right!?

 

[ovrszd]

Easier for them to make a quality locking device on the pins. Bigger is better, right!?

That's what my wife keeps telling me.......

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

That's what my wife keeps telling me.......

Dang! You beat me too it!

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I should of said in the begining that I have rulled out the Pat's hitch and would rather this not become a debate about QH vs Pat's. There are many, many threads on that.
I will definitely stay with a cat1 QH.
The LP/Speedco/HF are not the same exact thing but the same pin diameters etc.
So I need a bushing for the top link? I want a tight fit and do not want to use one size too small pins.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I just bite the dollar problem and buy the Land Pride bushings. Have them on all implements (10). If you buy the LP QH it comes with the first set. I buy the longest ones and trimm off to fit the pin length. I found the Cat1/Cat2 bushing to be a sloppy fit in the hooks.

Ron

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I just bite the dollar problem and buy the Land Pride bushings. Have them on all implements (10). If you buy the LP QH it comes with the first set. I buy the longest ones and trimm off to fit the pin length. I found the Cat1/Cat2 bushing to be a sloppy fit in the hooks.

Ron

Ron, so if you double up the reducer bushings it is still sloppy? Also, I didn't know LP made more than one length. Thanks!

 

[gwdixon]

Actually it's just the opposite. If you try to put a CAT I implement on a CAT II hitch you will need a bushing for the implement. If the width would work, you could hitch a CAT II implement to a CAT I QH without a bushing. But I've never saw the width work out.

And as discussed above, CAT I QH's are built with the lower hooks at CAT II size. So, again, if you want a tight fit, you will always need a bushing.

My CAT II QH has CAT III sized lower hooks.

I used a Pat's on a CAT I tractor. It's a great product for a tractor without extendable lower links. But it's not even close to a QH. Shouldn't even be considered as the same type of tool. There is not physical way possible to pick up a 3pt attachment with a Pat's without leaving the tractor seat. In my experiences, extendable lowers are just as easy to use as Pat's. But to each their own.

Right you are. Corrected in the post. Too many CATs, I guess.

Confused myself apparently.

 

[SSdoxie]

Northern tool lists the QH bushing set on sale @ $10.99, $15.99 regular price compared to TSC @ $32.99. Here is link[URL="Bushing set"[/URL].
I have the one set that came with QH and just used adapter bushings from TSC on other implements, do wish I had more of these. One advantage of these is the large shoulder, if not getting backed into implement square or off side, a lynch pin or washer can get caught between the hook frame and lock catch which destroys the lynch pin wire and wedges in there - sometimes tough to get loose again.

 

[ovrszd]

I should of said in the begining that I have rulled out the Pat's hitch and would rather this not become a debate about QH vs Pat's. There are many, many threads on that.
I will definitely stay with a cat1 QH.
The LP/Speedco/HF are not the same exact thing but the same pin diameters etc.
So I need a bushing for the top link? I want a tight fit and do not want to use one size too small pins.

I use a top link bushing on my brushcutter. Wanted a tighter fit. I used a cheap bushing. It didn't like it's job. Split it after 30 hours or so of use. But my cutter is extremely heavy too. Might get along fine with a lighter cutter.

 

[ovrszd]

Right you are. Corrected in the post. Too many CATs, I guess.

Confused myself apparently.

Happens to me all the time.....

 

[ishiboo]

Actually it's just the opposite. If you try to put a CAT I implement on a CAT II hitch you will need a bushing for the implement. If the width would work, you could hitch a CAT II implement to a CAT I QH without a bushing. But I've never saw the width work out.

Most quick hitches do not work this way. Both the Cat1 and Cat2 bushings have the same final diameter - that of the Cat3 lower lift pins. Thus, only a Cat3 implement would fit into either the Cat1 or Cat2 QH lift pin hooks without a bushing. As you said though, the width doesn't though.