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fat hitch conversion

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:25 pm
by captjsjr
anyone got any thoughts on converting a single gang fast hitch disc harrow into a regular pull behind ? i've been looking and can't find one and now a FH has come up cheap

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:04 pm
by Jim Becker
My thought is that you would be ruining a hard to find piece of equipment.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:06 pm
by Don McCombs
I would suggest designing/fabricating a clamp on bracket/tongue that won't preclude re-converting back to fast hitch usage.

Re: fast hitch conversion

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:31 pm
by captjsjr
maybe i should have explained fully . I have no intention of doing any irreversible damage. my thought was to make my connections with beam clamps or bolted connections that i could plug weld full if i wanted to return it to a fast hitch. but no cutting or weldments. i just wondered if it was feasible.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:47 pm
by Don McCombs
Should be feasible if the tongue length is similar to the 23A disc. You need to make sure you have clearance for the tires in a turn. A swinging drawbar will help, too.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:59 pm
by captjsjr
I've been sketching out a design that i believe will work without any welding,drilling ,cutting ,etc. on the plow. I have a swinging drawbar so if i address the clearance at the tires ,can you foresee any other issues ? this would give me a useable disc until the right one comes along at which point i unclamp the tounge and sell the FH in its original condition.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:06 pm
by Bob McCarty
I would think that if you could find some rectangular steel tube that would just slide over the point, you could drill a hole where the notch is and a bolt would lock it in place.

Bob

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:11 am
by Xperimental
You could use single fast hitch socket from the two point hitch of the larger tractors. The 340,460, and 560 and several other tractors used a fast hitch socket that would fit. A length of pipe or flat stock could be bolted to the socket and terminated on the other end with a yoke for a drawbar pin.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 4:44 am
by danovercash
I like Bob's idea, find some 1x3 rectangle tubing or 2x4 tubing with internal shims. Is your disk 4 or 5 foot? Btw I have a 4 foot fh disk.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:00 am
by pickerandsinger
I don't know your price, but I found a rather nice one at of all places home depot....Its not the cheaper 189.00 one its the 209.00 one....If you're a vet you can get it for 10 % off even on the internet with free shipping.to your home ...You would still have to confab a hitch but give it a look see , maybe it would save you some time and money and give you what you what right off the get go....You can also gang it at a later date and stagger it a bit to widen it....Thats my plan as I can't find a fast hitch one without paying an arm and leg for shipping... :mrgreen:

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:23 am
by danovercash
Friend of mine welded a fh point on a small Kubota double cut disk, says it works great on his cub.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:35 am
by Rick Prentice
Here's a link to the "half fast hitch" that Barnyard has. ( http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keywords=half+fast+hitch&start=15
You could add a couple small chains at an angle from the side of the drawbar to the center of the disc to prevent any side to side sway that would allow the disc to swing into the tires. Set up your drawbar the same as with the plow so it lifts up and down.

Rick

Re: fast hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 12:51 pm
by captjsjr
thanks everyone, the rectangular tubing was where i was headed but now you guy's got me exploring several options.none of which will alter the original disc should i find a 23. by the way the price was $100.00 for the disc and a FH back blade. thanks again..............John

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 12:55 pm
by danovercash
You stole those! You never did say what size disk, 8 or 10 wheels.

Re: fat hitch conversion

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 12:57 pm
by captjsjr
not sure i'm going after work today. she just called and they still have them,i got my fingers crossed