Pullstart 62,800 #1 Posted October 15, 2019 I’ve built two hitches for my tractors, and the most recent one for Hot Wheels was the product of a conversation with @PeacemakerJack about low and wide mounting points and utilizing the axle mounts for tillers and snow plows. I saw it fitting to use some three point lift links to start fabbing one to suit his needs, since he led me on the path to my second one. I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform at J&C Stables this Saturday! This black one was my first, a few years ago. This red one was my recent build. Here’s what I’ve got so far. His tractor has a rock shaft and I’ll be working on figuring out an ideal lift point and height to get his Punisher out of the sod for transport and down in the furrow when he’s rolling the dirt. and yes... I have some super hero something or another bandaid on my finger. Big bad Daddy got a dumb paper cut. 4 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #2 Posted October 15, 2019 First of all—big thanks to Kevin for his work on this project! I’m watching this build with anticipation from “afar”. Second—before a bunch cry “foul”, let me tell you how I got to this point. (If you don’t care to read the long explanation—skip to the next post☺️) Wheel horse had their slot hitch which in my opinion works well and is a cool simple setup. However, as time went along and Brinly attachments continued to get more popular, the Brinly adapter hitch was developed. It works extremely well for the purpose that it was created. HOWEVER, for a plow dog like me who has had a fair share of seat time on other brands, I felt it was lacking for my purpose and set out to create something a little more stout. Please understand that for common garden plowing, this isn’t even a concern. This is for extreme GT plowing in hard ground with big plows and lots of compounded torque. Factory is fine for most applications. What I found out after using that Brinly adapter style hitch in tough ground farmers fields pulling the Punisher is that it began to spring/rack the whole hitch assembly towards the left or the Land Side. It also broke the stop but off the back. In addition, I felt like having the contact point right in the center of the tractor was causing the front end to push more easily out of the furrow into the plowed earth. I also noticed that nearly every tractor that I own has the rear bracket for a snow blade/plow. I also knew that Wheel Horse used that same bracket to attach their tiller. If that works for a Tiller, why not a plow? Ironically, I purchased a tractor a couple of years ago that included a bracket similar to what I had envisioned. I’ve run this on GhostRider for a full season and so far I like it. However, it isn’t as clean of a design as I’d like and it isn’t as long as I would prefer. I was sharing this with Pullstart and he said, I can make something like that up...so here we are. Goals—more stability —more lift —more strength —more draft I was hoping to keep this under wraps until I had time to test it all, but Kevin has thrown it out there and now you all can take this journey with us. If it doesn’t work out well, I get the blame. It was my idea. If it works out great, get Kevin the pat on the back...he got it out of my head, worked out the kinks, and made it a reality. 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #3 Posted October 15, 2019 Josh, you know how hard it is for me to keep quiet sometimes! I get so dang excited and I’ve gotta talk about something fun! It’s going to work just fine, we just have to fine tune a few things here and there. We’ll get it! 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,647 #4 Posted October 15, 2019 27 minutes ago, PeacemakerJack said: I was hoping to keep this under wraps until I had time to test it all, but Kevin has thrown it out there and now you all can take this journey with us. If it doesn’t work out well, I get the blame. It was my idea. If it works out great, get Kevin the pat on the back...he got it out of my head, worked out the kinks, and made it a reality. What do you think is the ideal length for a Wheel Horse plow hitch? Will be looking forward to how this works. I won't have a plow for my Wheel Horse as they are scarce around here.,but it sure looks like fun. I do have two fourteens behind a 1959 30 HP 2 cylinder JD and a lot of really hard ground. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #5 Posted October 15, 2019 That is a good question. The Garden tractors that I have plowed with, liked a little longer hitch placing the share/moldboard a little farther behind the tractor. I don’t have a definitive answer for you though. Let me dig through some of my old literature at home and see if I can find something a little more concrete... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualObserver 3,408 #6 Posted October 15, 2019 Looks like its going to be a good build. I always thought it was funny that they had the better hitch for the vertical shaft tractors. For those who've never seen it... this is the factory hitch for the 69 vertical shaft tractor. Wish I had a better picture, but this is a very old pic... and as you can imagine... these are pretty hard to find hitches.... but they do exist. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #7 Posted October 15, 2019 Never saw that before...thanks for sharing! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualObserver 3,408 #8 Posted October 15, 2019 look at that....we even have the IPL. and I found these bigger pictures. These were from one of our early members who isn't around anymore. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,647 #9 Posted October 15, 2019 33 minutes ago, CasualObserver said: Looks like its going to be a good build. I always thought it was funny that they had the better hitch for the vertical shaft tractors. For those who've never seen it... this is the factory hitch for the 69 vertical shaft tractor. That one is a interesting design, but a GT with wheel weights would destroy it. Here is mine modified to work without removing the receiver hitch and reinforced with a couple of braces. The bar that Wheel Horse welded on top doesn't help much, I welded mine in between and then added the 1/4" angle. It's twisted and the pipe is pulled out at the bottom. The last picture is what damaged it, it's just not heavy enough for serious work. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #10 Posted October 15, 2019 A bit more progress 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #11 Posted October 15, 2019 In better interest of requiring less tools, I’m using 5/8” hardware on the stop bolts. I couldn’t find a bolt with enough threads, so I’ll use a piece of threaded rod cut to length and weld a nut to the end. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #12 Posted October 15, 2019 The main frame is assembled. Now I’ll work on a lift arm. This is where it might get a little dicey! 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #13 Posted October 15, 2019 Looking great Kevin... I love that you are able to use materials that you have on hand... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #14 Posted October 15, 2019 Here is my first hitch along with Josh’s piece. The overall length is considerably different. I’m pretty excited to see how it works! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #15 Posted October 15, 2019 1 minute ago, PeacemakerJack said: Looking great Kevin... I love that you are able to use materials that you have on hand... The only purchased goods have been the 3/4” rod and the 5/8” threaded rod. I told you I had a piece earlier, but when I was in town I grabbed a stick because it just wouldn’t surface after cleaning the shop. Guess what I just found out back grabbing some brackets out back IN THE DARK! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #16 Posted October 15, 2019 (edited) A Chipmunk! They seem to be invading your “space” today! Edited October 16, 2019 by PeacemakerJack 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #17 Posted October 16, 2019 Stop bolts are finished and there’s even room for jam nuts to keep the adjustment snug. Now I am at a place where I can try to figure a baseline for lift arm location. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #18 Posted October 16, 2019 Good...but what did you find? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #19 Posted October 16, 2019 The old piece of threaded rod I couldn’t for the life of remember where I stuck it. It was out back with other hitch pieces... like I planned on using them all together! We figure GhostRider has about 3” travel from the rock shaft. I popped some cardboard onto the side of the plow and tried my best to trace the travel of my lift cable at full lift and then in mock furrow mode. My cable travels 3-1/2”. I was hoping to find an intersection point between the two planes, but they seem to travel right with each other. Remembering my full drop of my lift cable is 1/2” more than the destined tractor, I chose a spot on the inner arc for my lift hole location. I’ll probably pop a couple in there for good measure, but this should yield at least 5” clearance when lifted up. I’ll figure out an ideal crossmember and lift arm, then transfer my template over. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,985 #20 Posted October 16, 2019 Nice!!! Since you're now into prototype building, maybe we should talk. I have some ideas for some attachments many members may be interested in. Like a simple "loader" design but don't get scared, it's not crazy involved and or as big as a traditional loader. But it will scoop, carry, haul and dump like most guys need but then don't have the room or funds for a GT loader. Kind of like a johnny bucket type of thing which can be assembled. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #21 Posted October 16, 2019 12 minutes ago, wallfish said: Nice!!! Since you're now into prototype building, maybe we should talk. I have some ideas for some attachments many members may be interested in. Like a simple "loader" design but don't get scared, it's not crazy involved and or as big as a traditional loader. But it will scoop, carry, haul and dump like most guys need but then don't have the room or funds for a GT loader. Kind of like a johnny bucket type of thing which can be assembled. I like to talk. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #22 Posted October 16, 2019 It’s starting to take shape! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #24 Posted October 16, 2019 This is obviously not set up on a 314, because I don’t have one. However while temporarily jacked in place on a Putt Putt, I have about 13-15” travel at the tip of the plow. That should do the trick, eh? 3 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #25 Posted October 16, 2019 Thing of beauty Kevin!! Well done and I can’t wait to try it out👍🏻 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
