Good Works Tractor Co. and their latest Quick Hitch

[S-G-R]

Did you ever hear back from GWT @mcmxi?

 

[mcmxi]

Did you ever hear back from GWT @mcmxi?

Yes, and I've been hesitant to give an update since I was disappointed in Courtney's reply. I still have a lot of respect for Courtney and GWTC and would buy more implements from them, but not their latest QH. But what the heck, here's his response to my email that began with "I don’t understand the thought process behind the locks with your latest QH. There’s a huge gap between the lock and the 7/8” pin (see screenshot from latest video)."



From Courtney at GWTC.

"Good question. It’s a standard design that many quick hitches have shared for years. It’s been proven in the real world and doesn’t create any problems. We’ve had zero reports of negative impacts and have personally sold over 10,000 quick hitches.

There must have been a reason other manufacturers designed it that way originally. No reason has been given that made a change necessary. Doing so could have led to an unintended consequence that might not be discovered until hundreds or thousands are in the field. That type of unnecessary risk isn’t worth pursuing."

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Sounds more like AI BS than a real person responding...
I'd like 'him' to post the list of QH makers that leave 7/8" gap in their product. Since it's a 'standard design', it should be EASY to show the list. that way we could go to their website's and SEE the 'gap'.
While I have zero use for a QH, if urge everyone to inspect the 'gap'. A 1/16" to 1/8" would be OK. any more is NOT acceptable

 

[jimh406]

I'd also like to see another brand that has the same gap. I didn't look that hard, but I didn't find one with a quick search.

 

[S-G-R]

[

Yes, and I've been hesitant to give an update since I was disappointed in Courtney's reply. I still have a lot of respect for Courtney and GWTC and would buy more implements from them, but not their latest QH. But what the heck, here's his response to my email that began with "I don’t understand the thought process behind the locks with your latest QH. There’s a huge gap between the lock and the 7/8” pin (see screenshot from latest video)."

Not the stance I thought he would take. Time will tell if it was a good path to go down on.

 

[Kennyd4110]

personally sold over 10,000 quick hitches.

 

[mcmxi]

I'd also like to see another brand that has the same gap. I didn't look that hard, but I didn't find one with a quick search.

I had a QH05 and have a QH10 and QH15 and there's no significant gap between the lock and the pin in any of those.

Does someone here have a Speeco QH? Is there a gap on their models?

 

[mcmxi]

Not the stance I thought he would take. Time will tell if it was a good path to go down on.

I wonder if he missed the point of my question re the gap. His response confused me to be honest. I made a post the other day about converting the QH15 to a QH16 to avoid needing bushings. Even after starting the conversion, the gap between the lock and the 7/8" pin is the difference between a CAT 3 pin radius and a CAT 1 pin radius i.e. 0.28" or 7.14mm for those north of the border.

I'm going to use the EA land leveler this weekend on the QH15 and see if the gap causes any issues, but I'm sure at some point I'll decided to add some steel to the lock to get a better fit.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I suggest welding some 1/4 thick bar stock to minimize that gap. 30thou would be OK !
Even though I'm 'north of the 49th', I KNOW what .28" is....

One huge problem with excessive gap is 'lateral teetertotter' damage..

 

[mcmxi]

I suggest welding some 1/4 thick bar stock to minimize that gap. 30thou would be OK !
Even though I'm 'north of the 49th', I KNOW what .28" is....

One huge problem with excessive gap is 'lateral teetertotter' damage..

That's basically what I was thinking. There's enough clearance when the lock is retracted to increase the length of the lock by 1/4". I'll have to drill out the pins that the locks are secured with and use a bolt and nut when reinstalling.

And that was the whole point of this thread i.e the "lateral teetertotter damage". The first photo shows a huge gap between the pin and lock and it seems to me that the implement wouldn't be locked in properly. I get that it's a pain to deal with all of the comments when you put yourself out there as Courtney does, but I would think he'd want his QH to be the best it can be. I think he said they're made in India.

 

[mcmxi]

View attachment 141687

@Kennyd4110, you realize that Courtney said "personally sold over 10,000 hitches" and not me right? Your post makes it appear that I'm claiming such an achievement, but I haven't sold a single hitch and most likely never will.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

it really doesn't matter where they're made, it's WHO designed it ! They should have practical experience in USING the 'device'.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

That's basically what I was thinking. There's enough clearance when the lock is retracted to increase the length of the lock by 1/4". I'll have to drill out the pins that the locks are secured with and use a bolt and nut when reinstalling.

And that was the whole point of this thread i.e the "lateral teetertotter damage". The first photo shows a huge gap between the pin and lock and it seems to me that the implement wouldn't be locked in properly. I get that it's a pain to deal with all of the comments when you put yourself out there as Courtney does, but I would think he'd want his QH to be the best it can be. I think he said they're made in India.

Good day.

I didn’t know / understand what that response you received meant. I wonder they did not or do understand the issue being suggested or asked (meaning maybe low product knowledge) or maybe a helper answered the mail? Either way if when someone suggests India makes best implements that’s a data point for me. I guess for me the question is how is that one they are selling better? Country of origins doesn’t make it better as far as I am concerned from a quality/usability standpoint point of view.

I don’t know the company and have not bought from that company. And I probably won’t unless they change their price structure. I understand they need to make money, but they are not close on the few implements I have priced from them. I do think they carry decent brands so I think that is positive. But sure seems that they are priced like a secondary seller on the few items I have priced through them. I am not saying they are, I am saying their prices are high. They include shipping in the price, but prices seem really steep to me and quite a bit over MSRP, for the items I have shopped. (Current example for me is I am shopping a $6710 MSRP on a logging winch and their prices is 7999….i had similar shopping experiences with chisel plow and landscape rake.)

Just my $.02.

 

[RMS]

I had a QH05 and have a QH10 and QH15 and there's no significant gap between the lock and the pin in any of those.

Does someone here have a Speeco QH? Is there a gap on their models?

I just took this shot of my speeco. Looks to be about a 3/8" gap. I made sure to have my chipper lifted so it was in the bottom of the cradle.

 

[mcmxi]

I just took this shot of my speeco. Looks to be about a 3/8" gap. I made sure to have my chipper lifted so it was in the bottom of the cradle.

Thanks for the photo. That looks a lot better than the GWTC variant. I'm heading outside shortly to run the bigger tractor so will get to test out the QH15 conversion.

 

[hedgerow]

Proper fit on these quick hitches to implements can be important. Years ago I bought a JD 4840 that a guy had converted the quick hitch from cat 3 wide to cat 3 narrow. The tractor was set for 30 inch rows so the tires were in close to the cab. He had a rear three point blade on the tractor doing some dirt work. Blade had hyd adjust on the blade and the pins were too small for the quick hitch he over adjusted the blade while moving and the blade hit the tire and was pulled out of the quick hitch and did major damage to the cab he got lucky and only minor cuts from flying glass. Insurance totaled the tractor and I bought it and replaced the cab and used the tractor for years. Be careful when using quick hitches.

 

[Kennyd4110]

@Kennyd4110, you realize that Courtney said "personally sold over 10,000 hitches" and not me right? Your post makes it appear that I'm claiming such an achievement, but I haven't sold a single hitch and most likely never will.

Yes, of course! LOL

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

My generic cheap Harbor freight QH's don't even have a gap.

 

[mcmxi]

I just saw an add on Craiglist for a Speeco QH being sold locally, and it has a GWTC label on it. The seller wants $200 for it and says that it's basically new. My only reason for showing photos from the add is that it looks like there's a "significant" gap between the lock and pin. So perhaps GWTC based their latest design on the Speeco, which they sell.