Looking to put Fast Hitch on 300

Farmer Devin · Feb 8, 2012

I"m not very familiar with Fast Hitch. Have a rowcrop 300 with independant PTO that used to have Fast Hitch on it. Now it has the swinging drawbar. The parts manual shows 2 styles for the 300/350. (With and without draft control.) What I really need is 3pt, but without seeing an aftermarket 3pt on a tractor, I"m not sure how sturdy they are. I"ve been advised to install a Fast Hitch and then the parts to convert to 3pt. Anybody know of any drawbacks to this method? Back to choices of Fast Hitch, are there more versions than two? Is either better than the other? Thank you very much, Devin

SouthernFarmall · Feb 8, 2012

I can not help you with which fast hitch to choose, but it has been my experience (with a 1 point fast hitch and a 3 point hitch) that a fast hitch is far superior.

SF

wisbaker · Feb 8, 2012

Another IH screw up, I have heard from a few sources that IH was approached by John Deere to use the IH fast hitch on Deere & Company tractors and Deere was willing to pay royalties. It is believed Deere felt the fast hitch was superior and wanted to use it. Speculation is if IH had licensed Deere to use the fast hitch that's what we would have now instead of three point and IH might of gotten a few dollars to fix tractor rear ends to boot.

DeltaRed · Feb 8, 2012

Forget the fast hitch.A 'Saginaw' 3point or similar will do just what you need.As for strength,no problem,they will lift and lots more than your tractor can provide.Steve

ejr-IA. · Feb 8, 2012

If I was going to put on a fast hitch try to find one off the 350 or 460 .Their is good after market 3 points for around 600 to 700 range might be the way to go.I could give you the name not sure they would let me post it ,just get on the net it will list them.

Brendon-KS · Feb 8, 2012

In my opinion, the lack of pitch control for the fast hitch on my 350 is a serious shortcoming. Earlier versions of the hitch had a hydraulic cylinder to control this but that was removed when the traction control was added. To me it was a very bad tradeoff. I have an IH 3-point adapter that works but you still don't have the precise pitch control that you would with a regular 3-point top link.

KIP in MX · Feb 8, 2012

I agree with Brendon, the old 300/400 style fast hitch with the draft control cylinder is the best of the two types.

rhtx55 · Feb 8, 2012

Look on the rear end housing just above the PTO.
Early 300's had just a smooth casting, this would call for the early style fast hitch without traction control ( one large rear cylinder & one smaller cylinder on the right side. It will look like this:

If you rear end housing has a flat milled place just above the PTO with four bolt holes, you can use either the early style above, or the later style fast hitch WITH traction control, these mounting holes on the rear end housing you can use the three point hitch prongs (2) in the lower sockets of the fast hitch, and the four bolt holes allow a place to attach the bracket for the three point center link.
The later F300's and all F350's came out with this flat milled into the rear end with four bolt holes in anticipation of coming out with the new style fast hitch WITH traction control, note the large handle to the left of the seat:

D Slater · Feb 9, 2012

Don't think the drilled housings at the rear had anything to do with a fast hitch attachment on a farmall tractor. Same transmission housing was used on a 300 utility tractor. Building of 300 utility tractors and housing change was near the same time. Bolt size for the rear top cover bolts were also increased. Even then I don't think 100% of housings were drilled and tapped. IH did have a bracket for the rear housing holes for some utility hitch options.
Guess IH intended to only use the fast hitch with traction control on 350 farmall tractors. Because they moved the rear light and mount to the left side of the battery box on a 350. It would be in the way of the early type 2 point hitch. Plenty of both type hitches ended up mounted to both 300 and 350 tractors though.
Attachments like a hitch can end up installed by dealers and others in the past outside of certain years.

mkirsch · Feb 9, 2012

As long as you're not trying to plow, a Saginaw 3pt will get you in business *right now*. It may take months to search for a complete, affordable fast hitch in your area unless you already have a line on one.

Either style fast hitch will fit but IMHO I would find the correct hitch for a 300. The older style hitch seems to hold up better over time while the newer style from the 350/460 gets sloppy.

Farmer Devin · Feb 10, 2012

Thank you everyone for your replies.
Does the early style only lift on the left side? I'm fairly sure mine has the extra holes on the rear housing. Its at my parent's farm, so I'll check this weekend. I've found Saginaw and Worksaver 3pt kits, anybody know of other brands to check out before I make a decision?
Thank you, Devin

rhtx55 · Feb 11, 2012

Devin,

If your 300 has the holes, then you can use either fast hitch, the holes provided a place for the three point top link attaching bracket.

If your 300 was smooth cast, you would need to use a 2 point to 3 point adapter that slides into the sockets like a drawbar, it is a big horseshoe shaped thing, and they are a bit pricey.

Looking to put Fast Hitch on 300

Farmer Devin

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SouthernFarmall

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wisbaker

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DeltaRed

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ejr-IA.

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Brendon-KS

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KIP in MX

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rhtx55

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D Slater

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mkirsch

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Farmer Devin

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rhtx55

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