Pat's Easy Change Cat1 Hitch
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North Idaho Wolfman
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Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
The 4 bolts on the side of the hitches are adjustable to square them up.
Yah. I "thought" they were pretty squared up. But when I hook up to some thinner set implements (like my carryall and ballast box) they look angled something fierce.
I suppose ill give it another go tomorrow.
They do look a little bit at an angle. Hold a straightedge along the middle of the lower lift arms and the middle of the hook (where the lift pin goes). This should line up.
The Pat's kit should have had some spacers (shims) that you can use to square things up. At least the old sets had those chunks of metal in different thicknesses. Either call Pat's (Greenwell Mfg.) for some or make them yourself. They fit along the top of the lift arm and slide into the Pat's to make it stable. Then when you clamp down the U-bolt, things will be tight.
The four bolts / set screws on each hitch are just for keeping the hitch in place after the shims are used to make everything line up. They are not nearly strong enough to overcome a heavy implement's torque on the hitch.
The Pat's kit should have had some spacers (shims) that you can use to square things up. At least the old sets had those chunks of metal in different thicknesses. Either call Pat's (Greenwell Mfg.) for some or make them yourself. They fit along the top of the lift arm and slide into the Pat's to make it stable. Then when you clamp down the U-bolt, things will be tight.
The four bolts / set screws on each hitch are just for keeping the hitch in place after the shims are used to make everything line up. They are not nearly strong enough to overcome a heavy implement's torque on the hitch.
Would these work on BX25d? Has anyone had experience. This would make life so much easier. Sometime talk myself into doing by hand rather then trying to hock up implement.
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It looks like it's shimmed correctly. The shims are only to place between the bottom of the arm and the Pat's hitch and are a vertical adjustment to accommodate different arm heights so the end of the Pat's hitch doesn't hang too low. There's no need to do anything on top of the arm because the U-bolt holds them up. They do come with washers that can be placed beside the tractor ball but these are only to take up extra space some if necessary and have no impact on the angles. The only adjustment for the horizontal angle is the adjustment bolts.
As far as what angle, they should be set up so that they are square with your implements. If you have different width implements, pick an angle in the middle. There is a bit of wiggle room so they don't have to be perfect. It might be easier to find a piece of pipe or wood dowel that's the same diameter as the pins and use that to get them aligned.
As far as what angle, they should be set up so that they are square with your implements. If you have different width implements, pick an angle in the middle. There is a bit of wiggle room so they don't have to be perfect. It might be easier to find a piece of pipe or wood dowel that's the same diameter as the pins and use that to get them aligned.
Thanks and bought with shipping amazon same price as others more or less.
Be here Friday...
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I have them on my Bx25D and love them. I originally bought the spacer bar but bent it with one of the implements. Now combined with Hodges stabilizers no need for spacer bar. I have pics in my profile.
Ah, now I understand more clearly.
So loosen the U-bolt a bit and then use the side screws to align the Pat's to your liking.
It is not really a pleasant task. One side has to be loosened while the other side is tightened. Back and forth, back and forth until you get it just right. Take your time and it will never have to be adjusted again. Be sure to tighten the lock nuts when done.
What is odd is that, when the 3PH is lifted, the alignment does change. It changes without the Pat's as well but the OEM balls rotate to align with the lift pins. You may have it adjusted correctly already but the "visual" is off-putting.
In conclusion, if everything is lined up squarely and as you like it when the arms are lowered, then that is about as good as it gets.
You're not supposed to leave the spacer bar installed while using the implement, it is only for hooking up the implement. My tractor came with telescopic stabilizers and I agree that they work excellently with the Pat's hitches.
Its fine there as long as you don't need a pto driveshaft connected. Its got clips in it to keep it from ejecting itself. It does interfere with the PTO shaft though. So must be removed for tiller, bushhog....etc.
Got them on work as expected the rod is needed to line up for sure. Took a good hour to position where wanted with adjustment screws. But I have OCD with those types of things. I would buy these again
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What width did you align them straight at? I had to pick a middle for my implements. My thinnest Cat1 was 25" and the widest was 32". I settled on using 28". See how it goes.
I went with the widest at 32 for biggest implement. Time will tell but is the one use most the 5' box blade.
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I thought about that too but then thought if over tighten rather break bolt then ruin internal threads.
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Yes.
I had to get some grade 8 bolts and havent had trouble since.
Other than the bolts I love the system but I have no others to compare to.
I also had an angle issue as you described. My tractor is much older and Im sure a lot more slack in the lift arm balls etc...and there is a considerable difference between relaxed position and under a load position. I believe it describes that in the installation instructions but I still had the same issues you were describing so I split the difference just a little.
Over time you can look at the wear where the 3pt lift pins have been rubbing on the quick hitches and possibly make adjustments as need be.
Good luck.