There has to be an easier way...

[rickmacheske]

If you've got a half-way level piece of concrete big enough for the mower, a mower is about the easiest of all implements to hook up--it has wheels that allow it to move in any direction. Mine also has floating brackets that allow the hitch pins to move up and down, so it is really a piece of cake to hook up. Hooking up the driveshaft is the hardest part of it.

The tiller and box blade are another story.

On those, I hook up the top link first. Then you can either pull forward or back up (or, extend or retract the top link) to rotate the implement (and the hitch pins) up or down to get them to align with the arms.

Make sure the turnbuckles are loose and don't be afraid of liberal application of boot energy on the arms to make them slide over the pins.

I tried your top link first method after getting a hydraulic top link. It can definitely make some items easier to install. KUDOS...

 

[Eric_Phillips]

Getting the arms lined up to start on the pins I find is not all that bad after some practice. My problem is the arc the arms make while sliding on the pins means the implement needs to move back while I slip them on. A disc with weight on it doesn't like to move much. I can't wait for the barn to be donw. It will have a concrete floor. Then come the dollies.

 

[flINTLOCK]

I would certainly put in a vote for PAT's quick change hitch system. Piece of cake.

 

[MicroPilot]

Somedays they just go on like they want to be there, other days its a struggle.

Does one of you lift arms have a height adjustment? If so put that one on LAST and use thee height adjustment to get it even up/down with the pin. if the pin is not lined up fore/aft, you can move the tractor to get it there.

 

[Chuck K.]

I would certainly put in a vote for PAT's quick change hitch system. Piece of cake.

Thats exactly what I did.. Thanks to friendly folks advice here I did a little research on them and ordered some 2 days ago, looking forward to them coming in.

 

[JoeinTX]

I have noticed a big difference between hooking up 3pt implements on my 8N or NAA and the newer Kubota. The older Fords seem to have more play and sway in the arms letting me muddle around and get the implement on versus the Kubota which seems to have shorter arms moving in a tighter radius.

That being said, when I get the implement hooked-up, the sway arms on the Fords keep it tighter than the sway chains of the Kubota.