3-Point Hitch Quick Hitch versus Telescoping draft links

[Furu]

I have been debating and researching the better choice: Quick Hitch versus Telescoping draft links for my JD 4720. I am less concerned with which is better to use or easier to use but more with which will survive long term use without damage.

Most/all of my equipment is Cat1/2 compatible, is very robust, and gets pretty heavy use and can be a bear to hook up at times. I have had some very significant jolts to my equipment that concern me if either option might have damage problems. My Woods BB-720 has had multiple draw link pins bent and I have bent the stabilizers to the draft links twice. Yes I am very careful and do not use excessive speeds while working but I do have difficult terrain with heavy equipment that pushes it.

I am not concerned that the quick hitch frame might be damaged but the locking pins/bars on the quick hitch might not survive a jolt that caused the bushings to jerk upward putting excessive force on the locking mechanism thus popping out after breaking the locking mechanism.

I have never seen the telescoping draft links but worry that since they are not a solid draft link that they would be more susceptible to damage than the normal solid draft links. I don't understand exactly how they telescope thus the potential for damage. My dealer doesn't have any in stock to look at either.

Does anyone have experiences that would indicate the damage potential of the locking mechanism on the quick hitch or damage on the telescoping links?

 

[kuboman]

I have used both and don't see how either would get damaged. The QH lockers are very tough and don't see how you could really damage them without ruining your equipment.

 

[radman1]

I have a CUT and Toolcat with quick hitches. 4-5 Ag tractors with quick hitches up to 245 hp and Cat III. Never has a quick hitch failure over 30 years. I have had to replace the ag quick hitches because they will wear out with time. Usually at the place where they pin to the lift arms. Could a weld break at the hook? Yes, but have not seen one.

I have seen telescoping draft links that were not retracted and still the arms did not pull apart when using an implement. Most of my tractors have telescoping draft links but I rarely use them with a quick hitch. Usually quicker to realign the tractor a bit than get off, and extend the draft links. Even if extend the draft links, it is easy to push them back together by accident when using a quick hitch.

 

[beenthere]

You can't destroy the QH, even if you can destroy an anvil.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have been debating and researching the better choice: Quick Hitch versus Telescoping draft links for my JD 4720. I am less concerned with which is better to use or easier to use but more with which will survive long term use without damage.

Most/all of my equipment is Cat1/2 compatible, is very robust, and gets pretty heavy use and can be a bear to hook up at times. I have had some very significant jolts to my equipment that concern me if either option might have damage problems. My Woods BB-720 has had multiple draw link pins bent and I have bent the stabilizers to the draft links twice. Yes I am very careful and do not use excessive speeds while working but I do have difficult terrain with heavy equipment that pushes it.

I am not concerned that the quick hitch frame might be damaged but the locking pins/bars on the quick hitch might not survive a jolt that caused the bushings to jerk upward putting excessive force on the locking mechanism thus popping out after breaking the locking mechanism.

I have never seen the telescoping draft links but worry that since they are not a solid draft link that they would be more susceptible to damage than the normal solid draft links. I don't understand exactly how they telescope thus the potential for damage. My dealer doesn't have any in stock to look at either.

Does anyone have experiences that would indicate the damage potential of the locking mechanism on the quick hitch or damage on the telescoping links?

Standard or telescoping draft links are extremely simple, rugged and clean. Quick hitches can be pretty rugged but almost never present as clean a profile and are more lkely to cause problems with rear extending hyd lines or just by encountering debris on a tractor used in a multitude of varied situations. QHs also usually extend the load further back from the tractor and thereby apply greater strain to the lift as well as more swing to the load when turning. Further, the attachment at the pins does not articulate nearly as well as the balls and will cause some binding when tilting an implement. Altho they are often convenient we have removed QHs from all our utility tractors.
larry

 

[charleyfarmall]

For what it's worth, I have had three types of quick hitch: Pat's easy change, another similar hook based system, and the Deere/ Landpride, Speeco version.


I like extending links much more than Pat's system. I found it much easier to hook up implements with the extending links. My McCormick ( Landini) did not have extending links which is why I bought Pat's. I ended up adapting Kioti bottom arms to the McCormick to get extending links and liked it much more. So did my wife who found extending links much easier.

Now I have a Deere and put the iMatch adapter on it, and I think it is excellent as long as your equipment is iMatch compatible. It's really easy to back up and shove the implement a bit if it's out of line, then pick it up and go.

So, my first pick is the iMatch/ Speeco/ Landpride hitch. My second choice is extending links.

 

[scottrh]

My experience has been excellent with a top-link-adjusting Quick Hitch. It makes you life easier having the adjustabble top link on a quick hitch.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have both telescopic links and IMatch on my 4520 and 110tlb and find both to be durable, don't think your 4720 can hurt them. I prefer the fixed in place top hook on the IMatch and have everything setup to fit this correctly.


SPDERLK mentions that the IMatch doesn't flex like the swivel balls on a regular hitch, it isn't supposed too. The lower pins that connect to the standard hitch arms with swivels perform this task. The IMatch and other quick hitches are supposed to be rigid with the implement frame.

I use the IMatch with top and tilt, works great.

 

[nunyabinis]

I tried several systems before going to the Quick Hitch. Now that I've had a Quick Hitch and a Hydraulic Top Link I'll probably never use another type. I almost never have to get off the tractor to hook-up implements.

The reason I tried every other system first is because I was too lazy to modify all my implements to fit the Quick Hitch. I finally manned-up and modified everything and I couldn't be happier. Telescoping draft links are nice but they fall far short of the Quick Hitch system.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have both telescopic links and IMatch on my 4520 and 110tlb and find both to be durable, don't think your 4720 can hurt them. I prefer the fixed in place top hook on the IMatch and have everything setup to fit this correctly.


SPDERLK mentions that the IMatch doesn't flex like the swivel balls on a regular hitch, it isn't supposed too. The lower pins that connect to the standard hitch arms with swivels perform this task. The IMatch and other quick hitches are supposed to be rigid with the implement frame.

I use the IMatch with top and tilt, works great.

Some QHs do not have wide openings to accept the balls and some tractor balls do not stick out much from the arms that hold them. Combine the two and you lose the liftarm end swivel entirely. Lift arm only type QHs like Pats are another case : all outer ball swivel is replaced by pin slop in the hooks that capture the pins. :confused3:
larry