Tired ot 3pt Equipment changes all the time- what easy change do you like....

[countryguy1225]

Again, Newbie on his first year of Tractors, balers, cutters, disc, etc.... And I'm really tired of all the 3pt on & off grunting I do. I see the Pat's each changes here->Pat's Easy Change System - TractorByNet.com Store

Anyone using them? Also- What else is out there? I honestly do not know. Please Excuse if this should go to the "attachments" forum- to me it seems like this is where I'll hear about what works best for haying which is what I am doing.

 

[raptor749]

don't have the Pat's , but I have a case/IH quick hitch on my b7800 , have everything I own to fit it. Freind next door liked it so much he bought one like it to fit his Ford 1710. Said he wish he had it years sooner. Only thing I use that I can't use on it is the post hole digger. Look at harbour freight , agri-supply , or your local dealer. Can run upwards of $300.00 depending on cat. 1 , 2 , or 3. You will love it , either way you go ( work smarter , not harder ) ..

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

I started out with a PQH system and liked it very much. My implements now are all QH ready so I am using a Speeco QH system now.

 

[k0ua]

I used a set of Carters quick hitch for quite a while and they worked pretty well, but now my new Kioti has the telescoping lower links and telescoping sway bars and I no longer need them.. I don't suffer much any more in getting hooked up with the Kioti. When I had the B7500 and was ignorant of quick hitches and did not have telescoping links, I kicked and shoved and cussed quite a bit. Lots of ways to skin the cat, but I am happy with the stock equipment of the Kioti.

James K0UA

 

[countryguy1225]

Thanks everyone. Had no idea there were so many of these. eBay has dozens and harbor freight is having a sale on one. See here 3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-1/2" Clearance

So it seems there are two common types. The lower arm attachment type and then a frame type. I see that I would get to adjust my widths with the lower arm types thus far too. Very cool. Thanks again.

 

[JIGBUILDER]

I have 7 different attachments and found the Pats system to be more of a pain to deal with than OEM cat #1 arms . Three of my attachments required alterations for for the arms to get under the pins. Plus all the different widths which Pats adjustable rod couldn't be used with some attachments requiring me to be up and down off the tractor more than I was. My biggest complaint was one arm or the other would drop a pin if upward lift pressure was relaxed. This happened twice. The second time it bent a lift arm. I sold them to contractor that used a box blade or a rake. Made him a happy owner.
Plus I didn't like the additional length on the arms and the problems that caused on two of my attachments.
I'm 70 + years old and have no problem levering my attachments around when needed.

 

[nikdfish]

I've been using the Carter & Sons LLC EZ-Hitch for a while now and it has made 3pt hookups loads easier - especially considering I am often hooking up on non-level ground. It has more manual activity required than Pat's, but the lift pins are retained by a manually secured retainer rod that makes it extremely unlikely that the pin could escape during work. Some items require changing the setting on the anti-sway chains for a different width, but a bungee between the arms keeps things steady while doing the hook up. If I wear out the current set, I may cut the box off & have the j-hooks welded to the arm top.

Nick

 

[texasjohn]

I like Pat's system....very solid, reliable, good people to purchase from , USA made...no modifications required for any of my numerous attachments...have hydraulic top link, thus top link length not an issue. Recommend Pat's

 

[Artisan]

I grabbed one of the HF's QH's, there not so bad...,
but I had to beef mine up a bit, not hard, you can
read about it HERE.

 

[sixdogs]

I grabbed one of the HF's QH's, there not so bad...,
but I had to beef mine up a bit, not hard, you can
read about it HERE.

If you had to do it again, would you buy a HF quick-hitch again? They are being discontinued around here and I can get ine for $79 --less a 20% off coupon.
Worth it or find a better quality one?

 

[Artisan]

You know if I were wealthy I would not fiddle
w/ this stuff, I would just go big w/ quality, but,
I am not. If you have the means, think about Land
Pride products, if you need to $ave, go HF but
to awnser your question, yes, it is A-OK ONLY if
it is modified as I suggest. Do your homework,
I am not the end all, I make mistakes all the time...
Additionally each and every different accessory /
implement you hand off it will have it's own different
challenges. Once you iron out all the wrinkles you
will enjoy it.

 

[NICKB304]

i like my speeco quick hitch from tsc. it even works with my old john deere #5 sickle bar for cuttin our hay field. i just leave the mower with the front propped up with a cement block and i can just back in and hook up. all my implements are set up and are easy to just back up clip in and go without getting off the tractor.


2012-08-09_17-25-50_557 by nickb304, on Flickr

 

[MFRED]

I too have the Pat's. Though they work great for my rotary cutter, they do actually take longer to hook up the 3pt mower. I find I still have to get off to adjust the width as most of my implments can't be changed to fit. At that point I end up on and off the tractor extra to lift the links into position where without them I could just put the pin through.

Really just aggrevated me when I wasn't paying attention and bent the PTO shaft on my rake when turning. Not the Pat's QA fault, didn't check clearance first.

Maybe just from the years of having to get perfectly straight backing up it doesn't bother me. If they worked on most of my implements they would save a bunch more time.

 

[TripleR]

PATS are handy for a lot of people and a great bunch of people with which to deal, but with the extendable lower links and Top and Tilt is so easy, I didn't even put them on our new tractor.

You can have them make a set for your tractor that doesn't extend the length of your lower arms which is really nice, but they don't extend.

 

[Deerherd]

I have a Woods (think it's Speeco) QH with the top and tilt from Fit Rite Hydraulics and even though it took a little bit of work making all the attachments QH compatible, it's great. Almost fun to hook up now....

 

[drcdac]

I have a Pats easy change system and it is a very good product. Top link had to be longer for the added length but this takes all the work out of hooking up shredder! Should have spent the money long time ago.

 

[TCowner]

I have Pat's easy change system and agree its a great product, and, its a back saver. But in the end it comes down to the moron implement manufacturers who just get the concept of a standardized mounting system. My box blade, rear grader blade, wood splitter all have different low pin widths so I have to adjust the draft arm width for each implement. If those "morons" could just agree on a uniform width most of the frustration would go away. I agree telescoping draft links on the tractor help but Pats system is less expensive and for me, works just as well.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

I bought a Nortrac 3-point quick hitch.
$138.41 w/shipping this year.
Works great and the price was right.

 

[kootch88]

I have Pat's QH and made my own rod with a turnbuckle in the middle so width adjustment is easy. I marked the rod so when I go to one implement I turn the rod to the width I need and I am done. One poster said his keeps dropping one pin. I am not sure how this is possible if you have it mounted with the hooks fully engaged and have never experienced this phenomenon.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I have a John Deere imatch, in fact I loved it so much i gave the first one to my grandpa and got a second one for my last tractor, a small 16 hp Yanmar. Sold the Yanmar and made myself a quick attach plate so now I can run my few 3 point implements on the front of my skid steer. I have yet to have a problem with the imatch system, it's quick and easy and all of my implements fit it. When I had the Yanmar I also had swapped out the lower links with a set of Kioti telescopic lower links however I still ran it with the imatch as well. The telescopic lower links were great for my post hole digger and increased the lift height however the additional stress from pushing the load further back eventually blew the O-ring inside the lift cylinder which resulted in loss of lifting capabilities until I fixed it. I still have the telescopic lower links, some day when I get another tractor they will defiantly be going on it. :thumbsup: