Fast hitch to 3pt

I'm looking at a 1959 460 and actually have a couple questions:

1. It's got the fast hitch on it but doesn't have the 3pt adapter. One of the reasons I want the tractor is so I can get a back blade. How hard is it to find a 3pt adapter and how much would I be looking to spend?

Is there such a thing as a back blade that will work with a fast hitch and if so how hard would that be to find?

2. If memory serves the 50s were a bad time for Farmall/IH due to rear end issues. Is it probable that this tractor has had the rear end replaced?

Also is the 460 power steering or manual or could it be both?

Thanks!

You can buy horns with 3 point quick couplers built into them, but u still wont have a top link to hook to, unless you build or buy one. I have a IHC original 2 point to 3 point converter, it's kind of a crude looking affair, It would be strong enough for the back blade, but i would use it for a 3-4 bottom mounted plow, It's just the two point hitch, horns, on the front with the 3rd link and the bottom two hook's for the 3 point on the rear. To be real honest buy a scraper with the two wheels behind it, there so much easier to do a good job with. Been there done that! Cant help you on the power steering!!

Power steering, depends on tractor. That would be a fast hitch that uses the larger prongs and yes, they did make fast hitch blades. I paid $75 for my adapter at an auction.

FH blades were made but may not be too easy to find, I don't see many here. For my 300 I bought a set of FH points with 45 degree upswept arms which were for a plow, I was later told. I bored out the upper hole to 7/8 and use them on 3 point implements including a winch, bush hog, rake, box blade, and soon a snowblower. The upward sweep puts the ends of the arms about 8" above where the holes would be if the arms were straight and this works really well because with the straight arms it can be hard to get enough height. Someone had already added a top link bracket to the tractor before I got it. I can take a picture if that would help. The arms I got were under $100 on eBay but I have no idea how often they come up for sale there.
Zach

I don't know if 460s were available without power steering, but I've never seen one.
As for a back blade... Dad had an IH factory made one he used on his 460. I am pretty sure my nephew who has the tractor also has the blade. One thing that was done on some implements was a Fast Hitch drawbar was welded on so it could be used with a F H. Dad had a round bale carrier and a stack handler made that way. Pretty sure they could also still be used with a 3 point, but not positive about that.

Poke around here. Most of the adapters are really hard to use, these not so much.
Untitled URL Link

Available from this site-see "tractor parts", upper left--then tractor hitches, ect.

Back blades were made for both sizes of fast hitches. I see them frequently for sale in the classifieds and photo ads on this site. For a 460 you will want the large 3" wide fast hitch prongs on a back blade. I have a small point IH back blade I use with my Super C and it is far superior to any 3-point back blade as it can be hitched to the tractor without leaving the seat for starters I'm not familiar with the 2 point fast hitch system on a 460 but my Super C has a feature that allows you to raise or lower the left side of the blade independently of the right side which is great for taking out the center ridge of a gravel roadway. Tilt the blade and make one trip pulling half of the center hump into the wheel track and come back the opposite direction doing the same to the other half of the center hump into the other wheel track. Level the blade and make a couple of passes leveling the roadbed and you're done without ever leaving the tractor seat, Hal.

I think the rear end issue you are making reference to was isolated to the 560 tractors as I don't recall seeing anything that the 460 was involved with the field modification program IHC used to correct the problems. The power steering type I can't answer for you as I don't have IHC literature on that models, Hal.

Most 460s had power steering, but a few early ones did not, and they steered hard. The earliest 460s had smaller rear axles and most had a factory upgrade. Measure the axles! Three and a half vs earlier 3 1/4 (I think). There are fast hitch 3-point tongs galore but the top link will be a problem. The International 2-pt to 3-pt adapter has a top link but they still go for $2-300. A 460 is a sweet tractor, but disappointing for 3-pt work.

Hello there,

They made/make a top link that bolts to the rockshaft of the fast hitch..Bates Corp sells them for about $125.

As for the arms, you can get 2 different widths, so depending on what implement you use, you will need that specific one. They range in price and quality.

There also are two different thicknesses of fast hitch prongs, so make sure you get the correct one.

The big thing to remember, is that the fast hitch arms do not swing outward such as a true 3 point hitch; to account for this, there are adapters that are similar to the modern quick hitches. They have a latch so you can hook up to the pins by raising the hitch into the pins from underneath. See the picture.

I have a set of each; word of warning on the latch type adapter, is that they are very thick around the pin, and do not clear frames on some brands of rototillers!

Going to guess this is a farmall 460. They were made with and without power steering. There's a serial number break on the upgrades. After the serial number break the tractors were built with the upgrades out at the time. Before the serial break a triangle mark was supposed to be put on the serial plate if upgraded. Some of the later tractors built had a few more upgrades than ones that started being upgraded around serial number 12,000. Somewhere less than a thousand above or below that number. Would need to look up the exact number.
Depending on how much 3 point equipment used. More than one size or shape 2 point arms come in handy. The adapter IH sold doesn't work the best on some things. I use a 8 inch raise like Zach and in picture, made them from straight prongs, a 4 inch raise, a straight and offset for the 32 inch spacing with a 2 inch raise. For the top link a bolt on like in picture can be used. Made up the one in the picture but some places sell them. 460 also has bolt holes in the rear of the transmission housing that a top link bracket can bolt to. can't remember if the 2 point lift shaft is in the way for that or not.

I would not worry about the rear end "upgrades" at this stage of the game. You have to consider that this is tractor is as much as 56 years old and literally anything could be completely worn out, upgraded or not.

If it runs good, drives good, and you can agree on the price, go ahead and buy it.

One thing I might mention here about using a 460 or any IH from that era with a back blade. Having the control valve on the side of the dash is not ideal for using a blade. Much better to have a tractor with the control by the seat. After Dad was gone, Mom had a load of lime dumped in the cattle shed, actually spread somewhat with the dump truck, and I spread it out with the 460 and back blade. After using my Super 55 Oliver with a blade, reaching the valve handle on the dash of the 460 was VERY unhandy.