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| Figure 1. ASAE standard quick hitch |
The advantages of an ASAE standard quick hitch (Figure 1) include faster, easier and safer hitching compared with no quick hitch and much lower cost compared with delta-type quick hitches. The primary impediment to using an ASAE standard quick hitch is that the implement hitch geometry must conform to the ASAE standard. How do you determine whether the hitch on your implement conforms?
ASAE Standard Quick Hitch Dimensions
These dimensions, shown in Figure 2, are taken from ASAE Standard S278.6, Attachment of Implements to Agricultural Wheel Tractors Equipped with Quick-Attaching Coupler. These dimensions apply to the hitch points on the implement. The distance between the inner portions of the two lower hitch pins must be between 26.81 and 26.94 inches. The center of the upper pin must be between 14.94 and 15.06 inches above the center of the lower pins and should be directly above them, not in front or behind.
ASAE Standard Quick Hitch Pin Dimensions
An ASAE standard Category 1 quick hitch actually requires Category 2 hitch pins at the top and bottom. You can buy at implement dealers and farm supply stores inexpensive bushings that you just slip over the Category 1 pins on the implement. The bushings will be labeled “Cat. 1 – 2 upper” and “Cat. 1 – 2 lower.” The lower bushing outside diameter should be between 1.43 and 1.44 inches, and the upper bushing outside diameter should be between 1.24 and 1.25
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| Figure 2. Dimensions for an ASAE standard category 1 quick hitch |
inches.
If your implements conform to these dimensions, it will be easy and inexpensive to use an ASAE standard quick hitch. If your implements do not conform to these dimensions, you have three choices: (1) modify the implements, (2) use a delta-type quick hitch that will fit almost any implement (but at higher cost) or (3) don’t use a quick hitch.