The Deere I-Match hitch is the most popular ‘premier’ hitch for John Deere compact tractors. If you are cost sensitive, and want a suitable solution for compact tractors, you can stop reading! If you are brand loyal, or prefer a better looking solution, keep reading… Deere I-Match With this replacement hook (and the $75-$80 HF hitch with coupon), you’ll have the most cost effective solution to the quick hitch problem. This video shows details of me working through these connectivity issues, finally settling on the improved ‘hook’ linked here. This replacement hook greatly improves the ability to connect to my King Kutter brush hog, and other ‘difficult’ implements. There is a 3rd party top hook available which DOES extend outward from the frame of the quick hitch. There is a cost effective solution to this issue, which I found ONLY after I lost my top hook. However, the top hook is very wide, and the hook does not extend out very far from the frame of the hitch, making it difficult to connect to some attachments. The top link hook is adjustable vertically, which is good. The frame is larger (but likely not as strong) as the more expensive competitors. Of course, that means there is compromise somewhere, right? This hitch is more ‘bulky’ than the more expensive hitches. This hitch is the most cost effective on the market. Rather I purchased from Harbor Freight with a 20% off coupon. I didn’t purchase it from the Amazon link here. Pat’s Easy Change will not be quite as easy to connect to attachments as the other options below, however it really shines when you need to connect to an attachment which is not compatible with a standard quick hitch. In fact, Oliver 3 point lift links all the way back to the 1960’s were very similar to the Pat’s Easy change of today. It doesn’t seem to be useful for any 3 point hitch attachment. I’ve often wondered why tractor manufacturers continue to supply the standard ‘ball’ connection on the tractor. The top link is connected using the normal connection process. ![]() These extensions allow quick connection to the attachment lift pins. The Easy Change system modifies only the lower two (lift) links of the 3-point hitch by adding extensions to them. We’ll check out some of the more popular options here. Quick Hitches come in a few different shapes, styles, and price points. So, newer implements will be more likely to work with the 3 point quick hitches. This increase in popularity has forced the implement manufacturers to design their 3 point connections precisely to the standard, and with sufficient clearance to allow QH connectivity. These hitches assist with the challenging process of attaching and detaching implements. Over the last 30 years or so (this is ‘recently’ in the tractor world) quick hitches have become more popular. Perhaps the hitch is too wide, or there is insufficient clearance to allow connection. On some older plows, the lower lift pins can be adjusted left or right, while the top link is ‘fixed’.Įven if the pins are the perfect distances apart, sometimes the way the hitch is made makes it difficult or impossible to use a quick-hitch. Often the lower lift pins are not at the perfect separation distance, and the top link pin is often not at the correct height. ![]() Then, the challenge is repeated for the top-link.Īnother challenge is that implements, while compatible with a 3 point hitch, are not always STRICTLY compatible to the standard. Often, the attempted attachment includes prying, pulling, lifting, grunting, etc until you can get the lift arms perfectly lined up with the implement. One of those challenges is the ease of attaching 3 pt attachments. ![]() Unfortunately, while the 3-Point Hitch is nearly universally compatible, challenges remain. ![]() This level of compatibility is extremely valuable, allowing manufacturers to freely innovate on both sides of the hitch. Essentially every tractor made in the last 30 years has a 3-point hitch. We all love the relative consistency and compatibility between rear attachments and tractors. The 3-Point hitch system for rear attached implements is both loved and hated.
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