Uses for extra Quick Hitch Top Hooks?

WranglerX · May 5, 2019

SSdoxie said:
This interference is why Threepoint has the extra hooks he mentioned at start of this thread. The replacement hooks project out farther so bracket on the implement do not contact the bolts.
Bruce, you could gain 3 advantages by modifying the existing hook by welding a piece of bar stock with holes drilled to match the existing pattern to back side of the hook to move the hook back plus make the bar stock slightly longer to accommodate 2 more holes lower down to raise the hook higher for the flail mower. By having the hook moved outward you could use hitch pins to quickly change hook height versus wrenching on the bolts.

This point had been expressed over and over and over by many, many, many people but nobody see's that when first buying cheap Chinese design quick hitch..... Buy because its cheap, and then spend more money to make it work instead of just buying better design (bit more expensive) to start with...

Dale

CADplans · May 5, 2019

DL Meisen said:
This point had been expressed over and over and over by many, many, many people but nobody see's that when first buying cheap Chinese design quick hitch..... Buy because its cheap, and then spend more money to make it work instead of just buying better design (bit more expensive) to start with...

Dale

Hmmmmmm,,,,,,, that same replacement hook is sold for use on the John Deere version of the quick hitch,,,
I think this is a pretty much universal problem,, and applies to most quick hitches that use this style hook,,

WranglerX · May 5, 2019

CADplans said:
Hmmmmmm,,,,,,, that same replacement hook is sold for use on the John Deere version of the quick hitch,,,
I think this is a pretty much universal problem,, and applies to most quick hitches that use this style hook,,

EXACTLY........

Dale

Threepoint · May 5, 2019

DL Meisen said:
To me. looking at pivot top attachment point look like it going to hit the bolts that holds the hooks when top bar drops on to hook....

Not only does top mount look to high (cat 3) as you see it, it also looks like space between bottom of hook and bolts that hold hook to mount is two small to accept top attachment point of implement...

View attachment 603380

Dale

Dale's pic is a good one to show the clearance problem with the bolts that the after-market extended top hook is intended to address. However, even without switching to an aftermarket top hook, or welding an extension onto the back of the OEM top hook, there is an easy mod that solves the problem. And no welding required. With a hacksaw, cut the hex heads off the two bolts, then trim the bolts' shanks to length so that the ends are flush with the outer walls of the hitch's bracket.

Next drill a small hole through each bolt near one end so that a small hairpin clip can be inserted through it between the inside wall of the bracket and the top hook itself. Now there are not protruding parts of the bolts to interfere with the implement's top bracket if it needs to slide over them. See pics below of my mod of my original HF top hooks. In fact, the mod works so well that I use the same modified "pins" to secure my new extended top hooks, even though it isn't necessary so far with my current implements.

The conversion of the bolts to flush pins was an idea originally posted by Kennyd, another TBN member, several years ago. Ken now sells an extended aftermarket top hook of his own on his website.

Threepoint · May 5, 2019

CADplans said:
Hmmmmmm,,,,,,, that same replacement hook is sold for use on the John Deere version of the quick hitch,,,
I think this is a pretty much universal problem,, and applies to most quick hitches that use this style hook,,

CADplans, doesn't the John Deere's QH version, the IMatch, have a fixed top hook, welded to the hitch tubing at the ASAE standard 15" vertically from the lower link pins?
John Deere iMatch Quick Hitch Category 1 - LVB25976

CADplans · May 5, 2019

Threepoint said:
CADplans, doesn't the John Deere's QH version, the IMatch, have a fixed top hook, welded to the hitch tubing at the ASAE standard 15" vertically from the lower link pins?
John Deere iMatch Quick Hitch Category 1 - LVB25976

Here is a pic of the aftermarket version of the hook for the John Deere iMatch

,,,

bigtiller · May 5, 2019

Threepoint said:
CADplans, doesn't the John Deere's QH version, the IMatch, have a fixed top hook, welded to the hitch tubing at the ASAE standard 15" vertically from the lower link pins?

That is the way it used to be but it was redesigned to the bolt on style about 5 years ago.

bruceha2000 · May 5, 2019

OK, I measured the bolts on the QH, they are 2 7/8. The gap in the mower upper attachment is 3 3/8 so ASSUMING they have and send a Cat 1 compliant "lifting arch" with the same "cheek" spacing, I don't need to modify anything. Who knows, WoodMaxx's 2 largest flails are Cat 2 which has the same spacing as Cat 1 so I don't know why they would even have an arch with a Cat 3 F1 dimension.

bruceha2000 · May 5, 2019

DL Meisen said:
This point had been expressed over and over and over by many, many, many people but nobody see's that when first buying cheap Chinese design quick hitch..... Buy because its cheap, and then spend more money to make it work instead of just buying better design (bit more expensive) to start with...

Dale

Sadly the "bit more expensive" Land Pride, which looks pretty much identical to the one I got at Harbor Freight, is $550. It does have a nice auto latching feature on the lower pins. While I don't think I should have to screw around to make a "compliant" QH work with "compliant" attachments, I don't think I'd be spending anywhere near $450 in modifications.