Pats quick hitch question

[Chew]

Got my quick hitch installed and seems to be working well. Did have to install an extended top link.

Finally got around to using my big rhino brush hog and found that my 3 pt barely lifts it off the ground. I knew the angles would change some but my rear wheel on the rhino is barely off the ground (touches off and on over uneven terrain). Does this sound right or am I doing something wrong? I need to drive through a creek bed and the brush hog is gonna bottom out pretty bad because I can't lift it any higher.

What do you guys think?

 

[CountryBumkin]

Is the problem a lack of hyd power, or just that the 3-point is fully up and still not lifting high enough for your hog?

What model tractor do you have?

 

[Chew]

Is the problem a lack of hyd power, or just that the 3-point is fully up and still not lifting high enough for your hog?

What model tractor do you have?

Hyd. power is good, I just raise up the 3 pt. all the way and it just doesn't lift it very high. Before the quick hitch, the brush hog was lifted very nicely with plenty of ground clearance.

 

[mendonsy]

Sounds to me like your new top link is too long.

 

[scdeerslayer]

Did you install the shims? If you did you may need more shim.

I don't know if this actually plays out but in theory if installed correctly the arc of the pin location should go from slightly lower to slightly higher than stock, but overall it shouldn't have much effect.

Also, the extra length means the top link has to be longer and that changes the geometry of the top link. Might want to try adjusting that.

 

[Chew]

The old top link was a few inches too short. The new top link was adjusted out to the minimum to reach. I don't remember if I used shims or not but I think I did. What do they do that affects lift height? Sorry, pretty new at tractors. It's a l3400

"The realities are that, you know, as a black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station, you know." Michelle Obama

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Which hole do you have the top link in on the tractor side?
If it's in the top hole drop it down a hole or two to get greater lift height.

 

[Chew]

Which hole do you have the top link in on the tractor side?
If it's in the top hole drop it down a hole or two to get greater lift height.

Good idea. I think it's in the top hole. Thanks. Can't wait to get up to the property and figure it out. I didn't have much time last trip.

 

[Chew]

Well I did find a picture from recently. This is as high as I can get it:

And I found a pic from when I put a tool box on the back and confirmed that top link is in the top hole:

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

By looking at the top picture it also looks like you might have the top link set to long too.
See if you can shorten it up and still get the mower to sit right.

 

[Chew]

Thanks. Will do

"The realities are that, you know, as a black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station, you know." Michelle Obama

 

[scdeerslayer]

I don't remember if I used shims or not but I think I did. What do they do that affects lift height?

The shims in the Pat's Quick hitch account for various lift arm heights (as in top to bottom dimension, not height from ground). They go between the bottom of the lift arm and the inside bottom of the Pat's hitch in front of the arm ball and have a roll pin that you hammer into the shim. The roll pin then sits in a hole in the bottom of the Pat's hitch to keep the shims from falling out. I believe they come with 3 pairs of shims - 2 different thicknesses plus one with an angle on it. The instructions say to only use one shim on each side but I used both of the shims without the angle. If you don't have enough shim then the end of the Pat's hitch will hang lower than the arm ball.

 

[Chew]

Got it lined out. Moved the top link down all the way and was able to shorten it up. Lifting up nicr and high now. Thanks for the info fellows.

"The realities are that, you know, as a black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station, you know." Michelle Obama

 

[Huskerfan]

Has anyone tried Pat's QH with the kubota lower link telescoping arms?

 

[scdeerslayer]

Has anyone tried Pat's QH with the kubota lower link telescoping arms?

Yes, I have them on mine. If you call Pat's they will actually make hitches that replace the extendable end. They won't extend out, they just go in the same place so you're not making the arm longer, but with the Pat's you don't need the extendable function. I plan on getting some at some point before next spring.

 

[jajiu]

I replaced my HF QH with the Pat's and I went about 2 weeks. I just took the Pat's off and put the HF QH back on. The Pat's just didn't do it for me. I have had the HF QH on all my tractors (4 in all) and maybe I'm just use to it, but it works better for me. I'll put the Pat's on Craigslist and see if I can get most of my money back.