Farmall 400 Fast Hitch Question

Mark Peters · Jun 8, 2009

My nephew just called me and asked me a question which I think I know, but I`m just not sure. He`s looking for a complete FH for his 400 and put want ads out for one. Says a fella called and said "Which one do you want, the early style or the late style, the 400`s came with both". By "late style", I can only assume he means the traction control fast hitch. I was under the assumption that these hitches weren`t introduced until the 230`s,350`s & 450`s came out. Anyone have any insight on this? Did the 400 really have both styles on them ? Like I said earlier, I don`t think they did, but I`m not 100% sure on this. Thanks,Mark

Hugh MacKay · Jun 8, 2009

Mark: If draft controlled fast hitch made it to a 400, it happened sometime after the first 450 or 560 were scrapped. I was quite a keen teenager when those tractor were new, read all the books cover to cover. Let me assure you, it was before I discovered girls.

I suppose a dealer could have odered one 57 through to 63, for a 400 that came new with a U drawbar. They were an option.

Janicholson · Jun 8, 2009

The draft control (later) hitch is probably a bolt on proposition. But the draft control is marginal.
I prefer the normal 400 hitch with two hydraulic cylinders. one for hitch angle, and one for elevation. It allows substantial angular control of the implement, and lift above ground. JimN

Marv · Jun 8, 2009

Either one will work. I have an early 400 FH on my 1957 IH450. I would trade mine for a later one.

Jim Becker · Jun 8, 2009

I have a copy of manual 1 004 496 R1, 11-26-56. The title is:
Preliminary Installing and Operating Instructions
Farmall
Fast-Hitch
with
Traction Control
for
McCormick
Farmall 300, 350, 400, and 450
Tractors

Based on that, I presume that hitch was not available until the 50 series was out, but was intended to be available for backfit.

mkirsch · Jun 9, 2009

If the Traction Control fast hitch fits the Super MTA, it should also fit the 400, right?

The old 400-style fast hitch doesn't fit a Super MTA because some hole or mounting surface is missing on the deck, if I have my facts straight. The Traction Control hitch doesn't need it, so it bolts right on.

Mark Peters · Jun 9, 2009

Yep, that is true. Traction control FH will fit. My nephew has a traction control FH on his 400 at the moment, but I`m positive that hitch didn`t come from the factory with that hitch as his tractor was built in early 1955. Within the first year that the 400`s were built.

Too Far Gone · Jun 9, 2009

Mine is a "56 model and as far as I know it came with the new style which is still on there

Cub n M in OR · Jun 10, 2009

Not sure which one I've got, but there is one on my MTA that I'd like to sell. I Can send pictures if you're interested. I'm in Northern Ca.
Email [email protected]

Ben

Hugh MacKay · Jun 10, 2009

That could be a dealer instalation. It was quite common in the mid 50s for tractors to be sold new as much as 24 months after manufacture. Inventory didn't move around like it does today.

Mark Peters · Jun 10, 2009

Hey Ben, Thanks for the reply. I`ll let my nephew know about your offer, but I think he`ll probably try to find something a little closer as we are in NE Wisconsin and the shipping would be kind of expensive unless you have a way to get it here reasonable. Let me know and thanks again, Mark

Farmall 400 Fast Hitch Question

Mark Peters

Member

Hugh MacKay

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

Marv

Member

Jim Becker

Well-known Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

Mark Peters

Member

Too Far Gone

Member

Cub n M in OR

Member

Hugh MacKay

Well-known Member

Mark Peters

Member

Similar threads