Fast hitch, good or bad? would like your input please

Is the fast hitch on my 460 a good working concept or is it a joke? i have experience with allis chalmers snap coupler and that was a joke when not set properly but i suppose that goes along with anything that"s not set properly. I guess what i"m getting at is would it be better for me to use a standard drawbar pull plow or get a fast hitch plow? or convirt the 2 point to 3 point? any information/your experiences are much appreciated! thanks and happy thanksgiving!

Converting your F-H to 3 point isn't going to gain you anything. The big drawback I could see to them, was the control location on the side of the dash instead of beside the seat. Also the draft control is not the best on the F-H, compared to most 3 point set-ups... that won't change if you convert to a 3 point. Of course there is no draft control on a pull type either, so that is a wash.

It is a good working concept. You can use 3 point equipment with it if you have the adapters. It is very versatile and handy for quick changing of implements if they are of the fast hitch style.

As far as pull-type or mounted, I have no experience with pull type but I would say that there is a reason all newer plows are mounted or fully mounted. You have much better traction control and easier to manouver (sp?) especially in small fields.

Used to be a fella here with a lot to say on the subject of plows. Sadly, he is gone. As to FH v 3 pt, I once heard a guy here put forth that the 2 pt implements were difficult to line up and that 3 pt were a huge improvement. I never tried to line up two point but I have pretty much every implement you could name in 3 pt and some of that is extremely difficult to get on the tractor.
I suspect they both have their problems in certain circumstances. Pull type implements are by far the easiest to hook onto. I have several of those too. My opinion is that FH was extremely viable but Ferguson beat IH to the punch with his 3 pt hitch and it's popularity was enhanced by installing it on a lot of small tractors...most notably the N Fords. I would keep the 2 pt and give it a try. IMHO.

I have and have had a couple of tractors with the fast hitch. I've also had several with three point hitches. Given the choice everything in my yard would have a fast hitch. Far easier to couple and uncouple compared to the three point and the down pressure option is nice. Sam

A gent with a lot more tractor experience than I have, once told me that he preferred the fast hitch because you can hook up to the implement without ever leaving the tractor seat.

Mark W. in MI

Hi Matt: I have 3 with FH, a 300 & 2-350s, and only one has reasonable tight pins/bushings. The other two flop all around.. I also have 2 slightly different 3 point adapters but only use it on rear grading blade. My reason for posting is to mention sloppy F-Hitchs and different style 3pt adapters. I'll also comment on If they are worth using? Sure, if it is already on the tractor.. use it. It will resell slightly better with FH most of the time. I know one farmer who liked FH for just one reason. It was his yard tractor and he could drop the plug in drawbar right down to ground level to hook unto heavy hitches and/or he could lift any real heavy item up to hook unto without him lifting it or having to go & get a jack. Handy as a yard tractor with hydraulic lifting drawbar that will lift a lot of weight. Most of my field work does not need a F-Hitch yet. ag

Dad bought a 350 new, with a 3-16 fast hitch plow. It worked ok, and we used it for quitea few years. Then he bought a 3-16 pull plow (basically the same plow with wheels) He said it pulled easier than the fast hitch one. Possible the fast hitch one was not set up quite right. I thought the mounted plow was handier at times.

Matt, My only present experience with the IHC fast hitch tractors is a 1953 Super C. I truly love the tractor and the hitch capability. I'm in my late 60's now and just dread having to hook up most 3 point implements as they always have to be jocked around in some manner to get attached to the tractor. I am presently looking for a larger fast hitch tractor like a 560, 706, etc. and will only consider one with a fast hitch. I have no experience on the position control feature of the fast hitch on those tractors so I can't comment on that. I have a couple of equipment trailers I keep stored in the barn with 2 5/16 ball hitches and with a ball mounted on my Super C drawbar I can move them around without getting off the tractor. And with the down pressure control on the SC I can use my 2 point post hole auger and have control on it going down. I have never had a problem with it augering into the ground past a root, rock, etc. and having to hand crank it up out of the ground with a pipe wrench unlike what is possible with the 3 points with no down control. I can feed it down at only a couple of inches at a time with the down pressure control. Don't know if any of this is of value in your decision but I certainly wish all my tractors had fast hitches and I didn't have to lug those heavy 3 point tillage implements around to attach to the tractor, Hal.

If IH would have sold there 2pt fast hitch patent back in the late 1950's to John Deere who wanted it real bad, probley today we might have 2pt insted of 3pt equipment but IH wanted to keep it for themselves which was another mistake IH made. I have had two tractors years ago with fast hitch and it's a whole lot easier to hook up. Don't have to get off the tractor.

Thanks guys, also thanks for mentioning about the slop in the fast hitch, i just assumed it was supposed to be that way but i guess i'll be ordering new pins etc. If anyone else has a good comparison i'd still appreciate more comments, Thanks again!

I have owned or operated several fast hitch tractors (450,560,706, 656, and a 806). When the fh was first released it was hands down the best hitch option on the market for mounted equipment IMO. However, as tractors got larger & more powerfull it became less of an advantage & more of a hindrance. My 806D was about the limit for FH equipment. I think IH saw this as well as when they introduced the 1206 in 1965 it was onlyavailable with a 3pt hitch Even if IH had sold the productions rights of the FH to JD I doubt if we would still see it on the market with the higher hp tractors of today. I can't imagine a FH implement on a MX 305 or similiar size tractor.

Two other arguement in favor of FH that I don't totally agree with is ease of hook up & unhooking. Vs a straight 3pt hitch, yes they were much easier but add a quick hitch to a 3pt & that advantage pretty much disappeared.

The other was the ability to have down pressure. True, this was an advantage on the earlier FH tractors, 400s thru 560s, but the 06 & 56 series tractors did not have fh with down pressure

Adavantages that I have seen over the yrs with 3 pt over FH is heavier lift capacity, better fore /aft adjustement, more side to side adjustability, and better lateral movement.

JM2¢

The IH Fasthitch was a great idea and I think it works terrific.
There are two types of 3pt. adapters, one mounts to the equipment and the other mounts the tractor.
I have two of the type in the top photo. I leave one attached to my brush chopper and just back into it and away I go.

I've owned similiar adaptors to what you show. My experience is the top one is fine for light applications such as blade work (small blade) mowers & such). They won't hold up to heavier loads nor do they give any for to aft adjustment for equipment such as cultivators.

The bottom set will handle heavier loads & with the top link gives you fore / aft adjustments that some implements require. Over the years I have had two sets similiar to those, one back in the '70s that I used on a 806D and another set that I bought 4-5 yrs ago to use on a FH 756. Both my sets were made to adjust laterally and could be used on CAT 1 or CAT II equipment. Also, by pulling a pin they would swing out & off the implement's lower pin. They also had the ball set higher than the arm like your's which gives more height when the implement is raised. On both sets I usedd a CAT II quick hitch which came as close to 3pt as you could get with a FH tractor.

If I was looking for a set of adaptorss I would recomend something similiar to the bottom ones. I tore up one like the top one on a 3 pt chiesel plow behind my 806 back in the ;70s. Bought the set similiar to the bottom pic & never had any problems.

Joe, I have a NOS IHC 2 point to 3 point adapter I purchased at a RPRU several years ago like in the upper photo. I agree that style of adapter is for light duty use only. I have never had to use it as I have several fast hitch implements which were made for 2 point use only on my Super C. So I have no experience with that type adapter as it has never been on the tractor. My question concerns the type of adapters with the balls in the end which fit into the IHC fast hitch latches. How do you hook them up to the tractor as from looking at them I would think you would have to put them on the 3 point implement first and someone would have to hold them or you would have to block them up in some manner to be in position to back into the prong ends. What makes me think this is how you do the hook up as they would point straight down once placed on the implement from gravity. The fast hitch yoke by design doesn't allow for much lateral movement as the hitch is very rigid in that direction which prevents you from putting them on the tractor first and swinging them out and over the hook-up pins on the implement. I have wondered how one person does a hook up using that style of adapters. Thanks for sharing the magic, Hal.

the 1206 was a 3point hitch and a 2 point fast hitch combination. It WAS NOT only 3 point hitch. The 1206 lift arms were both. You just pulled the latches up and the ball ends slid out and then you had fast hitch.

Hal; for you and others, this shows the fast-hitch adapter arms I purchased from IH that work slicker-than-snot, as I too had problems with gravity using the ball type arms.
<a href="http://s450.photobucket.com/albums/qq230/roundbarn/?action=view&current=fasthitchtothree-pointadaptarm.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

Al, thanks for sharing as that type makes sense as far as hooking up. Unlike fast hitch implements which have the prongs set at a specific spacing (28" + or - 1/4" or so) 3 point implements don't seem to have that tight of control on their spacing. Those 3 point arms you kindly shared in your photo would need some type of constant spacing between the hook-up lower pins to work. I guess that piece on the top of the prongs slides back over the pin once raised to lock onto the implement. Some of those 3 point implements are just torture to have to fight with to hook-up to the tractor and like my disc mower I just leave it on the tractor for the hay season as it's no pleasure either and it's easier then a lot of equipment. A smooth level concrete surface is certainly a big help too. Back in the early 1950's when the Ford N series tractors were common they couldn't handle anything which couldn't be moved around fairly easily by one person and guess the usage on those smaller tractors is what led to the wide acceptance of the 3 point system. It's a problem when using the later big heavy stuff which reguires some real muscle to move around. Thanks again and I didn't mean to start s rant, Hal.

Al,
Have you the part number for those arms.
Are they the same left and right.
Thanks,
Dell

Dell, Yup, identical; either one fits either of my hands. Sorry, I just couldn't help myself there. I dug out my sales slip from Carl F. Statz &amp; Sons, Waunakee, Wisc. triple w dot carlfstatz dot com 888-867-8289. The slip states: 43-300 H.D. Conversion Tongs-Straight. 07/15/08 they listed at $192.00 and they gave me $50.00 credit on the old rusty ball-type tongs. Hal; yes, the opposite end of the latch is the circular end with the hole that is pulled to retract the latch. I agree about the control of the three point spacing. I purchased an old single stage snow blower that I have never used and it is a struggle to get connected to the arms just so I can move it around the yard a few times to mow. I too really like the fast-hitch and am really a big operator - an eight foot blade and a 60" rotary mower with ~.989 acres. I'm gonna drive my Farmall 460 today ~20 miles total for two trips, putting JD riders in storage. 21 degrees and a sunny sky...a great day for a tractor riding! Enjoy your day folks, I'm gonna.

We had one like the top one for the 300. It was built a little different though, the hooks for the lower links were attached to the uprights and adjustable for width. And the top link hook was a bar with several holes for adjustment. For a 460, I doubt that you would have enough capacity or power to hurt it.