Thoughts on i-Matches?

[rmonio]

I've been making pretty good usage of car hauler/dollys for manuevering my tractor implements (Box Blade, Ballast Box, Forks, Bucket) around while attaching/detaching in my pole barn (concrete floor). However, I recently purchased a MX6 and have quickly realized that this unit is not as easy to manuever around as the others are. I believe the car hauler/dollys will be sufficient (with 5x5 posts on top of them to support the MX6) - but the ability to quickly connect to the 3-pt is a real bear as you have to take off the lower arms each time you attach/reattach in order to get the right spacing.

This leads me to believe that an i-Match would be in order - and I've not bought one because past postings on TBN have indicated that not all implements fit the i-Match and therefore it was not a good purchase. Is this still true? Can those of you who have an i-Match give me some of your thoughts on whether they are worth the price (the JD unit is expensive) and if they make things easier overall?

I don't mind buying one - but I'd like to hear from others what they think.

Thanks!

-Bob

 

[jcmseven]

I have really liked my I match. I would have no reservations about it. They are not that expensive, and if you get one or two attachments that are imatch compatable and are the ones you use the most, that is money well spent. I have three current I match attachments for my 3720 and once every two-three months I use my friend's sickle bar mower to cut the roadside near my home in the summer. With this tractor, and others I have owned, I just unhook the imatch and use the sickle mower (which is a non Imatch attachment) as a standard three point implement. It is not hard to use a non-match attachment if you have to, but the quick tach implements and the time and lack of skinned knuckles make the imatch one of the best things about my tractor.

John M

 

[kennyd]

Bob, The I-match is a wonderful thing to have, you will not regret owning one.
They are really great when you are starting with nothing, because you just have to make sure the new stuff you buy will fit it, and allot of new stuff will. The posts you read about non-standard stuff not fitting is a valid point only if you have a bunch of attachments already. But most things can be made to fit with a little welding and cutting if you know how.

I highly recommend you get a JD one, the Harbour Freight ones have lots of problems

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

You can also get these from a company called Jeffers. We have used quite a few and they have worked well for us. Its the same thing as the I-match, it just does not have the JD marketing-ized name to it.

 

[Chris_T]

Any thoughts on this:

http://www.buhler.com/products/quick_hitch.shtml

Was looking for info on RFMs and came across this. Looks remarkably like the I-match. It's a Canadian company with a distributor local to me, so it piqued my interest.

 

[rmonio]

I'd probably stick with the JD version as I'm not good at welding.

The principal drive here is the MX6 - the other units are pretty easy to manuever on the dollys in the barn. But that MX6 is alot harder!

Anyone know what the average cost is for the JD version?

-Bob

 

[cast_and_blast]

On my quote from the dealer on my 2305 it's $225. That's part of a package, but it should be in the ballpark.

Scott

 

[rmonio]

$225 isn't bad. Where in the South Metro (Mpls/MN) are you located? I probably know the dealer. ;-).

-Bob

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Tons of threads on these. The JD brand is very well made. Both the Speeco and JD are $200ish. The Speeco has the adjustable toplink wich might work for you. Get one and do not look back.

 

[rmonio]

Thanks, Mike. I had been quoted a price much higher than that by a dealer in southern MN for the JD version - and hence I didn't purchase as it seemed to be a bit too expensive. However, if the pricing is really in that range and I shop around a bit then I don't mind. It will save my sore discs in my back and neck!

-Bob