Quick Hitch woes

[dnw64]

My son convinced me to get a quick hitch.

Problem #1 - my flail mower is not QH compatible. Not a big problem, I thought, and got an adapter.

Problem #2 - the adapter makes the top link waaaay too long. It's too long even retracted all the way, and when it's retracted all the way, the 3-point arms won't go down far enough anyway.

Am I missing something?

 

[WranglerX]

One of the problems is the top hook of QH.... You need a extended one and do away with "adapter".....The "short hook" situation is a common problem with most quick hitch/implement "connection".... The rest of the problem is the distance between lower pins and upper pins on mower are not within QH specifications...

Also lower pins need a CAT 2 adapter to bring CAT 1 pins to size for QH....

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/heads-up-on-titan-quick-hitch-and-bolt-on-hooks-extended-top-hook.411684/

 

[dnw64]

One of the problems is the top hook of QH.... You need a extended one and do away with "adapter".....The "short hook" situation is a common problem with most quick hitch/implement "connection".... The rest of the problem is the distance between lower pins and upper pins on mower are not within QH specifications...

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/heads-up-on-titan-quick-hitch-and-bolt-on-hooks-extended-top-hook.411684/

The first problem is that the hook is way too tall to fit between the pin and the bottom of the bracket.

I hadn't gotten to the pin height issue. I had been assuming that since the hook was adjustable in height that I would be able to work with that. However, I can see now that it's already at the maximum and needs to be greater, is also an issue.

I guess I just need to give up on the QH idea.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

@kennyd could confirm, but his hook looks to me as making the hook farther away from the QH and closer to the attachment ...

Borrowing/stealing Ken's image from https://www.boltonhooks.com/imported-quick-hitch-accessories/ you need the extension below the hook to make it higher ...

The top of the hook "could" be cut off, but it's a "no going back" situation ...

What if you moved the pin, to the end, it looks like a CAT 2 pin size though, so try a bigger bolt ... ? Put it in the hook, and tighten/shorten up the top link ... ?

I'm not sure if it will work, but it's what I'd try before I got out the "blue wrench"!

It may be possible to also get someone to cut a new hook to your specs, but it will probably only work with that mower ...

Another option would be to weld a continuation of the top, to make more holes for adjustment ...

 

[SPYDERLK]

The first problem is that the hook is way too tall to fit between the pin and the bottom of the bracket.

I hadn't gotten to the pin height issue. I had been assuming that since the hook was adjustable in height that I would be able to work with that. However, I can see now that it's already at the maximum and needs to be greater, is also an issue.

I guess I just need to give up on the QH idea.

Hook the implement on the bottom and use the std top link. You do have to get off, but still a LOT easier than a fully manual hookup.

 

[kennyd]

@kennyd could confirm, but his hook looks to me as making the hook farther away from the QH and closer to the attachment ...

Borrowing/stealing Ken's image from https://rumble.com/v75h1by-poor-kitty.html you need the extension below the hook to make it higher ...

Correct.

But I don't think that will solve all of his issues, that tip pin is still way too tall as mentioned.

Sadly some implement manufacturers still refuse to acknowledge and adhere to the ASAE Category 1 Standard S278.6 for quick-attach hitches.

 

[pmsmechanic]

You can use your imagination to make this work. I modified all of my implements to work on my quick attach.

So the first thing is that your lower links can move up and down. With no quick attach the upper three point hitch link also moves up and down. With the QA that is no longer possible.

Possible solution would be to remove the top link brackets off of the mower and reattach it to the outside of where it's attached on the frame of the mower. This moves the top link apart just enough for two pieces of 3/8" flat to fit in between at the top with just enough room to fit them and the top link in between.

The two flat pieces should be approximately the same length as the lower links. They can be longer if needed. Have a welder weld suitable hinge points behind the present top link pin holes at the height where all three linkages are roughly parallel when in use.

This how I modified my Lawn Genie flail mower to enable the use of my QA.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Pat's Quick Hitch could solve all of your problems I believe.

 

[bcp]

Caroni? Do Italian farmers use quick hitches?

Maybe something useful here:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/quick-hitch-and-caroni-tm1900-not-compatible.415676/

Bruce

 

[zzvyb6]

Does the drive shaft still extend far enough, or is this going to be an additional problem if it's too short and you twist it.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Does the drive shaft still extend far enough, or is this going to be an additional problem if it's too short and you twist it.

Good point!

But can easily be overcome with an extension ... Bright shiny part!

Then the next question is how many attachments are going to be used, and is it worth adding the bushings to increase the top and bottom pins? Quick Hitch Bushings - BoltOnHooks LLC

 

[ptsg]

Caroni? Do Italian farmers use quick hitches?

Maybe something useful here:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/quick-hitch-and-caroni-tm1900-not-compatible.415676/

Bruce

Yes, they do. They use about the only style of quick hitch worth getting. The lower link hooks or Euro hooks.

Something that just works and it's easy to use.

 

[dnw64]

Pat's Quick Hitch could solve all of your problems I believe.

Nope. I had ordered one of those a couple years ago. My 3-pt has the extendable lower link bars and Pat's would not physically fit on.

 

[dnw64]

Does the drive shaft still extend far enough, or is this going to be an additional problem if it's too short and you twist it.

Pretty sure that will not be a problem. I cut the shaft just short of "longest possible" when I got it.

 

[bcp]

Yes, they do. They use about the only style of quick hitch worth getting. The lower link hooks or Euro hooks.

Something that just works and it's easy to use.

View attachment 5497195 View attachment 5497199

I'm refering to European attachments having no need to meet ASAE quick hitch dimensions.

ASAE = American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Bruce

 

[Engineer42]

Nope. I had ordered one of those a couple years ago. My 3-pt has the extendable lower link bars and Pat's would not physically fit on.
View attachment 5497213

You have two pins on your Bottom hitch pin bar. Take the front ones out and you'll gain about two inches for the top hook

 

[404nouser]

Just weld on a pair of tabs to move the top link to a compatible location.
I did this on a rotary cutter to make it fit mine.

 

[kennyd]

Just weld

Believe it or not....

Not everyone can do that.

 

[dnw64]

I'm not going to do anything until I get to where my tiller is this weekend and see what the situation is with that. If IT is QH compatible it may be worth the effort to modify the mower. If it's not, I don't feel like having to modify 2 implements. It would be one thing if I was changing them dozens of times a year. As it is, it may be 3 or 4.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I'm not going to do anything until I get to where my tiller is this weekend and see what the situation is with that. If IT is QH compatible it may be worth the effort to modify the mower. If it's not, I don't feel like having to modify 2 implements. It would be one thing if I was changing them dozens of times a year. As it is, it may be 3 or 4.

Right, I've never understood the need for a quick-hitch. I can hook up pretty much any implement in just a few minutes. Don't see the point in pushing everything back another foot or so and dealing with all the adjustments to linkages and PTO shafts, etc.

Some people drink whiskey, some beer or wine, and some not at all. I guess this is just personal preference but I don't see anything compelling from a utility standpoint about a quick-hitch.