Should I remove and reposition hitch lugs, or simply add 2 new ones?

Will S · May 5, 2016

Here's a pic of a QuickHitch/IMatch and a compatible ballast box. I'm thinking that raising the bottom lugs to the right height, will still let me set the box on blocks, and still provide good ground clearance when tractoring. So the question for those of you that have done it, can the welds be ground out reasonably easy? I'd like to re-use them instead of cutting them off. Seems I've seen someone grind welds off w/o screwing up the piece.

Thought about trying the plasma cutter to push them out, but I am sure I can mess things up in a hurry, with that. Grinder might be better option for a plasma newbie.

Gary Fowler · May 5, 2016

I would have no trouble cutting off those welds. Just grind off the top and end weld, then using a crescent or pipe wrench, twist the bar and the bottom weld will easily break off. 5 minutes of grinding per side will take care of it. Concentrate your grinding on the lift attachment and avoid grinding into the sheet metal. You will easily see the gap between the two pieces when you get thru the weld metal which in your case doesn't seem like much.

Will S · May 5, 2016

Thanks Gary. That's just what I'm going to do. Appreciate all of the suggestions, but I think this will work best for me.

Gary Fowler said:
I would have no trouble cutting off those welds. Just grind off the top and end weld, then using a crescent or pipe wrench, twist the bar and the bottom weld will easily break off. 5 minutes of grinding per side will take care of it. Concentrate your grinding on the lift attachment and avoid grinding into the sheet metal. You will easily see the gap between the two pieces when you get thru the weld metal which in your case doesn't seem like much.

Will S · May 11, 2016

Just to follow up, I followed Gary's advice, and ground off the welds, removed the tabs, and cleaned up the area where they will be relocated. Set them in position, and welded, and had to close a hole in the sheet, where I didn't grind the old weld off enough. It ripped a piece out when I bent the tab back.

Finished up the paint yesterday. Will re-install the pins, and it's ready to put in service.