Quick hitch setup advice

[JHTFarmer]

or: "what's wrong with these pictures?"

the main problem is that when I put the hitch in float position, the cross bar for the quick hitch will rest on the PTO shaft (3rd picture). In travel position, everything looks fine (1st picture). I believe the problem has something to do with the way I have the top link connected. It just looks too long. It seems to allow the whole assembly to drift down onto the shaft. There has got to be a better way of setting this up. Unfortunately, no directions came with the hitch. any advice will be well appreciated (the mower is a Woods RD7200, Tractor is a Case DX40)

 

[JerryG]

One thing that is wrong is that you don't have the lower pin bushings. That lets the front of the mower tip up more than it should. I don't know if it does it enough to cause the problem that you are having or not but I am sure that it will contribute some to it. They are sleeves that take up the slop on the pins.

 

[Neophyte]

Is it possible this is due to a design difference in the Speeco Quick Hitch? If you compare it to a JD iMatch or Landpride QuickHitch, I think you will find that the horizontal beam on the Speeco unit is thicker, which may provide less PTO Shaft clearance. I measured my iMatch from the bottom of the horizontal beam to the bottom of the lower hook (inside), it was 14-1/4". I would be curious to see what this measurement is on the Speeco.

As mentioned by JerryG, you should be using a bushing kit as well. There are different ways to accomplish this but I usually use the JD iMatch Bushing Kit (P/N BW15056), which costs around $30. It comes with the lower and upper link bushings. I have attached a picture of the kit. The bushings may give you another 1/2 inch of clearance.

By the way, did that upper link bracket come with the Speeco Quick Hitch? I'm referring to the black bracket that connects the Speeco Quick Hitch to the Floating Upper Link of the mower. I like the looks of this bracket but it looks like you may have to remove the upper hook to use it. I would be curious to see if that works on an iMatch. Landpride has a more simplistic setup but it allows you to leave the hook in place. Landpride QuickHitch Floating Top Link Kit (P/N 320-013A).

 

[Newblue]

I bought a Woods PRD8400 finish mower and in the manual there is an optional kit for quick hitch use. It has brackets that make the lower lift arm attachment points fixed which would not allow your quick hitch to hit the pto shaft. Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[JHTFarmer]

One thing that is wrong is that you don't have the lower pin bushings. .

Thanks, That will be an easy fix, but from the looks of things, I'll still have the problem of the hitch floating down onto the PTO shaft. The solution has got to do something with how the top link is attached.

Rich

 

[JHTFarmer]

the horizontal beam on the Speeco unit is thicker, which may provide less PTO Shaft clearance. I measured my iMatch from the bottom of the horizontal beam to the bottom of the lower hook (inside), it was 14-1/4". I would be curious to see what this measurement is on the Speeco.

By the way, did that upper link bracket come with the Speeco Quick Hitch? (P/N 320-013A).

I had an opprotunity to see an iMatch quick hitch side to side with this unit.
With both sitting on level ground, the horizontal bar on the iMatch looked about 1" inch taller.

That U shaped upper link bracket came with the hitch. I can't see any other way of hooking it up. The mower bracket will not fit around the hitch. the real problem I think is that the black upper link bracket allows way too much slack in the system. In fact, it would probably allow the hitch to nearly drag on the ground if I took off the PTO shaft.

 

[JHTFarmer]

I bought a Woods PRD8400 finish mower and in the manual there is an optional kit for quick hitch use. It has brackets that make the lower lift arm attachment points fixed which would not allow your quick hitch to hit the pto shaft. Hope this helps.

Mike

Looking through the RD7200 manual I just happened to come across the
Quick Hitch Kit (Optional). It looks like it even comes with the right bushing sleeves. Thanks everyone, I learned my lesson: read the manual

 

[Neophyte]

I have attached a picture of the kit for those who are interested.

JHTFarmer, could you please let us know how much this kit costs once you price it out through your dealer? I like the looks of this kit. I may want to give it a try on my LandPride RFM. It looks like it would work well on my rotary cutter as well.

 

[radman1]

I have the same problem on my KK mower, speeco quick hitch and Case-IH DX29. The problem is not the quick hitch but the floating part of the mower. The solution is easy and costs nothing. Your lift control lever should have a lowering stop on it. Just set the stop on the lift lever to where the quick hitch will remain a couple of inches above the PTO shaft. The float mechanism on the mower goes so low it allows the speeco quick hitch to hit the pto. The mower does not need to have this much room to float. I'm sure this would happen with with nearly all of these style of quick hitches. I've been doing it like this for a few years. The problem on your tractor is probably worse with your DX40 due to its higher PTO shaft and may hit the quick hitch sooner than my DX29.

Also get the bushings for the lift pins on the mower.

 

[radman1]

JHTFarmer

Just a suggestion. One other thing I noticed in your picture is your top link cylinder all the way retracted and your using the adapter on the quick hitch. Use the other hole (further back) on the adapter where it pins to the cylinder. This will allow you to lift the front and back of the mower at the same time and remove some of the extra length you have between the floating mower top bracket and quick hitch. You will probably like how the mower lifts with the change.
I use the adapter in the farther back hole on all my implements.

 

[JRP]

Sometimes I have wanted to take my Speeco and cut a big half round cutout the same radius as OD of some heavy wall 6" pipe under the top link, then weld a section of pipe there. (Not a full round piece, only a section of a full round piece). With schedule 80 or 100 pipe it probably would not weaken the hitch.

Does any one have an opinion about that? If i didn't di it myself I think my local welder could do it for $35 or so. This might be less expensive than the kit, and it fixes the problem for any implement.

 

[Neophyte]

I'm sure this would happen with with nearly all of these style of quick hitches.

I don't seem to have this problem when I connect my LandPride FDR2572 RFM to my iMatch. I keep my 3PH at the lowest setting and the PTO shaft never comes in contact with the iMatch.

The attached picture doesn't really show the separation well. I will try to take a better picture the next time I have it hooked up.

 

[Neophyte]

By the way, I checked the price on the Woods Quick Hitch Kit at my local Woods dealer and it's $126. I can post the part number if anyone is interested.

 

[radman1]

Neophyte
I may have went a little too far with my statement on nearly all quick hitches hitting the PTO staft. The imatch quick hitch has its hook mounted permanently behind the cross bar of the quick hitch. The speeco and many others have the hook mounted on an adjustable bracket above the crossbar. This would lower the cross bar a few inches which may allow it to hit the pto shaft. Also as mentioned earlier, the cross bar on the speeco is a 4" square tube and the Imatch is roughly 2x4" which would also help with the clearance.
The 3000 JD series are also relatively low to the ground compared to my Kubota and DX 29 and the tractor PTO shaft may also be slightly lower. I don't have actual measurements, but I will be getting a JD 3720 in a few days and trading in the Kubota. The hitch on the 3000 series certainly appears to be lower. I'll have to measure the different tractors sometime.
When I mow, I don't want to have excessive float for the mower. As long as it can drop in the front or back a few inches that is what I like. If the front drops in a 4-6" deep hole or ditch, I want the tractor to carry the front, otherwise I get too much scalping. By setting the lift control depth, it solves all problems.

 

[JHTFarmer]

The problem is not the quick hitch but the floating part of the mower. The solution is easy and costs nothing. Your lift control lever should have a lowering stop on it. Just set the stop on the lift lever to where the quick hitch will remain a couple of inches above the PTO shaft.
.

Thanks
But, if the remedy isn't the quick hitch adapter for the mower, I've got a problem because I don't think there is a lift control stop on the 3pt hitch lever on a DX40.

Rich

 

[bones1]

Sometimes I have wanted to take my Speeco and cut a big half round cutout the same radius as OD of some heavy wall 6" pipe under the top link, then weld a section of pipe there. (Not a full round piece, only a section of a full round piece). With schedule 80 or 100 pipe it probably would not weaken the hitch.

Does any one have an opinion about that? If i didn't di it myself I think my local welder could do it for $35 or so. This might be less expensive than the kit, and it fixes the problem for any implement.

JRP, I had the exact same idea as that.I mean exactly..scary.

 

[Neophyte]

Thanks
But, if the remedy isn't the quick hitch adapter for the mower, I've got a problem because I don't think there is a lift control stop on the 3pt hitch lever on a DX40.

As I recall, both the DX and TC series have lever stops. I found these pictures on the Case-IH and New Holland websites; both appear to have lever stops. Is it possible yours fell off?

 

[JHTFarmer]

As I recall, both the DX and TC series have lever stops. I found these pictures on the Case-IH and New Holland websites; both appear to have lever stops. Is it possible yours fell off?

Thanks,

I guess mine must have fallen off at some point. But, wouldn't the 3 pt hitch still eventually bleed down to rest on the PTO shaft over a period of non-use?


Rich

 

[radman1]

Thanks,

I guess mine must have fallen off at some point. But, wouldn't the 3 pt hitch still eventually bleed down to rest on the PTO shaft over a period of non-use?


Rich

I have had my lift up on my DX 29 for several days without it noticably bleeding down with a quick hitch on and no weight on the lift arms. Even if it did bleed down and rested on the pto shaft, the amount of weight resting on the shaft is negligible.
Call your dealer, you should be able to get a lift stop. Now I see why your having problems.

 

[Ductape]

I would say that if welding in the section of tubing will give you enough clearance, then i would go ahead and do it. I'm sure the hitch manufacturer wouldn't recommend it, but if the piece is heavy enough, i don't see where it will cause a problem. I've seen it done hundreds of times on car / pickup frames when more clearance was needed. I'd still get the bushings on the lower pins though.