Quickie Hitch

[Magicman]

So after building the log arch, I found the need for having multiple hitch points on my tractor.  The reason being that the rake may or may not be attached and also I did not want to have to find a wrench whenever I needed to reverse the rake.  The arch does not present the load such as a trailer would so I drilled the hitch bolt and used a Lynch pin to secure it to either the tractor or the rake.


 
I drilled the hitch bolt to accept a ¼" Lynch pin.


 
The hitch now snaps onto the tractor,


 
And onto either the forward or reverse position of the rake.

[JohnM]

And onto either the forward or reverse position of the rake.

Nicely done, MM.  I've got a ball on my logging winch and it'd be handy to do what you did so I could switch the ball to my box blade when needed.  I've never used a york rake and can't figure how or why you'd use one in reverse? ??? :P

[Magicman]

You can only pull so much stuff so far before it needs pushing off down the hill or into a burn pile.  ;D

[Nomad]

     When I saw the title of this thread my first thought was either Las Vegas or a shotgun was involved. :D

[shinnlinger]

I bough a 4 ft chunk of "receiver tube" from a local welder and cut bits off it and welded them to implements that spend a lot of time on my tractor.  This way I can swap in different sized balls and even a winch I have toolessly w/out removing anything.  On my back blade, I initially had a ball set up something like yours to pull a medium sized dump trailer, but after a while it broke the main pivot bolt. I have since welded a chunk to "the red part" on yours so the weight is directly on the tractor vs the rake and pivot.

Here is a pic with the winch mounted...


YOu won't have any problems if you stick to pulling your arch but if I was running the show I know I would strap something too big to it at some point and break something.  I recall pulling a 16 ft flatbed trailer with a good sized load of pine on it down the road with my tractor once and for some reason thought it would be a good idea to coast down a small hill and pushed in the clutch.  Well as you probably know, tractor brakes, especially 25yo tractor brakes, are not up to stopping much more than the tractor and wowie what a ride!  I didn't dare release the clutch for fear of blowing  the motor and just white knuckled and puckered till the ride was over.  Higher revs and lower gears for me now going down hills!

Dave

[Magicman]

YOu won't have any problems if you stick to pulling your arch

True.  Nothing but the arch because it is the only thing on the hill with a ball hitch.

my first thought was either Las Vegas or a shotgun was involved

:D

[21incher]

Another quick and simple Magicman solution to an age old problem.

[Don_Papenburg]

Hey watch out who you are calling old. ;D

[elk42]

Shinnlinger
Is that an auto of some kind on top of that structure.

[thecfarm]

elk42,I remember that thread.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,29272.msg421396.html#msg421396

[GDinMaine]

Everything, but the kitchen sink. Love it!

That's my kind of fabrication. 

 

[Clark]

I thought this was going to be another post about your marriage!

Clark

[backwoods sawyer]

Everything, but the kitchen sink. Love it!

That's my kind of fabrication. 

 

When I pull into a new milling job and see a set up on the tractor like yours i don't no whether to be conserned or over joyed.
Could be he likes to work real hard or could be he has figured out how to not work hard :D

[GDinMaine]

I could have spent $3000 on a logging winch, but I elected to fabricate the one pictured for $500 worth of parts.  No part of it was done without a specific goal or use in mind.  Works almost as well as the store-bought one, but sure beats not having one at all.

Everything, but the kitchen sink. Love it!

That's my kind of fabrication. 

 

When I pull into a new milling job and see a set up on the tractor like yours i don't no whether to be conserned or over joyed.
Could be he likes to work real hard or could be he has figured out how to not work hard :D

[thecfarm]

Sometimes it's easier to build it your way. I have added a few things onto my tractor to make it easier for me.

[francismilker]

The ingenuity here on FF blows me away sometimes. 8)

Nice job magic.

[Magicman]

Thanks all.  I had to switch it today and it was a "snap".   ;D