When did IH start putting 3-pt hitches on them?

Thanks,
Darren

Harold H

This set up beats a standard 3-point (such as on the N-type Fords) IMHO because it allows you to back directly into whatever you're hooking up until the bottom links latch, then hop off and hook up the toplink. With the Ford setup, you end up backing into the equipment until you're close, then muscling either the tractor or the equipment the last few inches until it lines up - really not the safest practice, and a lot more work especially if you're working alone as I usually do.

Something you have to watch though is the spacing between the bottom pins; the Fast Hitch setup allows no flexibility in the horizontal direction and the spacing has to meet the 26" Category 1 3-point spec. or the attachment won't hook up to the tractor. So far I think I've bought two pieces of equipment which I haven't been able to hook up because of this restriction. Sad, but true.

The 350 Utility (1957-8) also was set up like described above, and probably at least some of IH's other utility tractors as well. Hope this is useful.

Finding equipment the right width is generally a matter of checking with a tape measure; almost everything made by a legitimate manufacturer fits just fine, it's mostly the backyard builders you have to watch.

I do agree with your idea in principle, as did engineers at IH. By the time IH came out with the 04 and 06 tractors with lower link sencing, they did incorperate the telescoping lower link. This was nothing more than a fast hitch latch with a fast hitch fork that could slide out about 6" and could move up and down about 2" when all the way out. That feature has been standard on all Cat. II and larger tractors, built in North America for the past 40 years. I know some manufacturers use it on Cat.I Ends can be purchased for weld on to any 3 point, about 2-3 hours work for a welder.

As for opinions, I am not about to argue with 95% of North American farmers. Fast Hitch and IH are where they are today because of all their bone headed ideas. Not a good statment to have to make about a company that also had some of the best ideas in the industry as well. The bad out weighed the good.

The British diesels have a reputation of hard starters here in Canada and our cold winters. Some of the first ones we never got them going from Oct. until April. Some guys beat the problem by keeping their C, SC, etc as a pup start. Later ones were climatizted, for Canadian winters. Most of the first ones had upgrades upon being rebuilt. In TN that would never be a problem. They were great little diesels when starting was not a problem.

Thanks for your reply,
Darren

Harold H

Harold H