Telescoping Draft/Lift Links Question

Bill VA · Aug 16, 2016

What is your opinion of telescoping draft/lift link arms? Worth their weight in gold, gimmick, prone to
break on a hard pull, i.e. plowing, etc.

The 3 pt on my JD 5055d is a royal pain in the buttox hooking up 3 pt equipment - so much so, I'm
contemplating drawbar pull only equipment going forward. I'm getting to old to be risking my back wrestling
these implements when hooking up the 3 point.

I can get replacement lower lift arms for my tractor from Deere with the telescoping ends - but it's GOLD.

Telescoping lower draft/link arms - worth their weight in gold?

What's the good, bad and ugly on these?

Thanks,
Bill

Mathias NY · Aug 16, 2016

My honest opinion: Worth their weight in gold.

If you change implements a lot or by yourself, they are worth every penny. Probably just like a loader or 4wd, you will wonder how you managed without it.

Good luck!

Bob Bancroft · Aug 16, 2016

I have them on several different size/brands of tractors. I couldn't be without them, and have never had any trouble with them. I don't do enough hitching to think I need a quick hitch. Maybe you do? They're very popular. One small tractor doesn't have them, and occasionally I hitch/unhitch a finish mower from it, but can live with that.

dcarp · Aug 16, 2016

I've had them on all but 1 of my tractors, wouldn't want to do without them. Makes hooking up to any 3 pt item easy. I'd look for them from a salvage yard before I'd buy new.

Pair-a-dice farm · Aug 16, 2016

I've got them on all but one tractor. If you are using your 3pt and having to change tools very often they are worth their weight. I wouldn't buy a tractor without them if I was going to use the 3pt. I've never had a problem with any of them and they have saved countless trips up and down off of the tractors.

GordoSD · Aug 16, 2016

You only need one. Move the three point up and down to attach implement to the fixed arm. Then adjust the movable arm to the implement.

Allan in NE · Aug 16, 2016

How much are the darned things? I need a set for a tractor I just bought. Cat III.

Allan

Tech 7 · Aug 16, 2016

I vote for a quick hitch.

Bob in SD · Aug 16, 2016

Since the consensus seems to be that they are worth their weight in gold, what are the chances (or methods to try) for unsticking existing arms on a 50 yo JD 3020? I bought a single aftermarket (draft link? The part that controls the height on the right side of the 3-point). I'd like the two bottom sliders to be free (or at least one of them). Even though I don't change implements all that often, my son moved to town this year so I'm having to do this alone when I do it.

Bob

showcrop · Aug 16, 2016

One tractor that is no longer here had them, I thought that they were a pretty good feature, though most years I never used them. You should probably get a quick hitch. Really though, I think that everyone with a tractor should watch the part of the Ford Jubilee advertising video on attaching implements. It shows you how if you practice, and are good, you should be able to attach the left lower and top link from the drivers seat, then dismount, and adjust the height of the right arm and attach it. No strain, no sweat, just takes a little practice and maybe a little agility.

BobReeves · Aug 16, 2016

hydraulic top link would help allot. I'm a 71 year old 145# weakling and change implements quite often. I get as close as I can then turn the bucket down and drop it. I can move the tractor with the bucket and after I get the top link and one side hooked up I can use the top link to line up the other side. I also keep a big brass hammer in the tractor tool box for persuading things.

Tx Jim · Aug 16, 2016

(quoted from post at 18:10:04 08/16/16) You only need one. Move the three point up and down to attach implement to the fixed arm. Then adjust the movable arm to the implement.

Telescoping draft links are as handy as pockets on a shirt! I've never seen factory 3 pt draft links with only one that telescopes. I guess one would be alright but similar to gonads 2 are better.

jm. · Aug 16, 2016

After KUBOTA started putting them on tractors we can not hardly ever sell one without them. On a new tractor they make about $300.00 difference but if you come back and try to do it thru the parts department latter it is pricy. Most folks that I have sold a three point "Quick Hitch" will quit using it within a quick time. You have to have all you implements fit the hitch and it extends the needed length of any PTO shaft. The telescoping draft arms KUBOTA uses are pretty much trouble free. Ever now and then someone will loos a pin out of one or bend the latch but overall they are a big help. My advice to anyone buying a new tractor is be sure that is on thing you get.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 16, 2016

With heavy equipment they are real nice.The cost of the JD ones will be a lot less than a back or Hernia operation I bet.You only got to buy the one set one time so............

JD Seller · Aug 16, 2016

I would buy the telescoping drafts links over a quick hitch for Cat I and II tractors. The implements you use do not have standard enough hitch dimensions for a quick hitch to work.

I would look for used draft links. The ones you need go clear back to the JD 5200,5300,5400, 5500. Then the 10 and 20 series after that. Call around some salvage yards and see what you could trade yours in for on a set of the telescoping ones.

Even if you buy new that are under $750. That is double a quick hitch but only about one back Doctor visit. LOL

Billy NY · Aug 16, 2016

I seem to like them on the ford-new holland 4630 I got a year and change ago. Though I never really struggled that much with other tractors and hooking up implements. The way this 4630 is set up with the lift arm ends that telescope and the stabilizers on each side, that have multiple holes for adjustment and telescopes in/out, really seems to work well for my needs. The previous owner, or should I say the first owner, is one of those people who should NOT own a tractor. I say that because there were lots of little things to fix on this otherwise really nice low hour tractor. One of the lift arm ends was cobbled up with oddball hardware and the steel strap that is welded around the bottom was worn heavily from carelessness. I've yet to weld that up, but I replaced the hardware and it works like it was designed to. One thing that shines is that when I built a nice set of 3 point forks, is that they are very easy to hook up, part of that is the lift arm ends and stabilizers. I keep a large pry bar or fencing bar, one with the spade and tamper ends, that usually nudges any implement in place if needed.

jturbo10 · Aug 16, 2016

Would not do without them. I have two John Deere's that I bought used and the release buttons were all frozen tight. Tried heat, Kroil, etc to get them to free up without any luck. I beat on them with sledges, etc and no go so I had to blow them all out with a torch and that is very effective but the splattering of molten iron wasn't fun. Once you blow them out you can clean the locking chambers out and put in new button assemblies. The arms are easier to free and clean up except for one of mine that was installed wrong. It is so much easier to hookup 3 pt equipment, especially when you don't have any help. I had a lot of trouble hooking up my disk mower until I got them working, and now it is very quick and simple.

3000OH · Aug 16, 2016

FWIW, for a fairly cheap alternative, might consider the Pat's Quick Hitch setup - in the $170-ish range. Doesn't replace the arms - it attaches over the ends of the existing arms - but does make it much easier - personal best is 3 unhitches/hitches in 5 min (after dark, with only the tractor rear light). Put 'em on one tractor, then bought it for two more. Made in the US (in KY), sold by Northern Tool and AgriSupply. Made in Cat 1 and Cat 2 sizes, don't have to mod any implement to use.

Leroy · Aug 17, 2016

There is absoulately NO way to attach the left link up on that ford or any other ford for that mater from the drivers seat unless you are 10' tall. I should say arms that are 5' long. I had the Naa and have a 2N and 9N, also a Ferguson TO30 all using the same lift arms. And I also had 2 Ford 4100 and a Ford 5100 (all 38" rear wheel models) with those telescoping arms and without them you could not hook up a piece that was large enough for them. I drove a Deere 2020 onec with a quick hitch with 7' rotary mower and that hitch should have been thrown in the junk. That 2020 and the Ford 4100 are just about identical in size and configuration.

Hobo,NC · Aug 17, 2016

(quoted from post at 09:28:34 08/17/16) FWIW, for a fairly cheap alternative, might consider the Pat's Quick Hitch setup - in the $170-ish range. Doesn't replace the arms - it attaches over the ends of the existing arms - but does make it much easier - personal best is 3 unhitches/hitches in 5 min (after dark, with only the tractor rear light). Put 'em on one tractor, then bought it for two more. Made in the US (in KY), sold by Northern Tool and AgriSupply. Made in Cat 1 and Cat 2 sizes, don't have to mod any implement to use.

I was in the same boat with my new Bota there Telescoping arms are $800. I put a set of Pat's on it I am satisfied they work very well.

K Effective · Aug 17, 2016

I do not have telescoping arms on any of my Narrow Deeres- not sure they are available. We had them on the 2630, and I referbed them after years of neglect- they cleaned up well and worked fine.

I bought a quick hitch, but as mentioned, most of our Cat I implements vary in size enough that it is NOT quick to use. I welded a Reese-style receiver on the quick hitch- it gets more use there than as a three-point hitch. Great for pulling the dump trailer.

I have evolved to the point to recognize that two or three trips to the seat are better than two or three trips to the chiropractor after trying to tug a tool into place to hook up. And I put blocks under most tools stored outside to make minor adjustments easier.

Tom in Ga · Aug 17, 2016

I don't have a quick hitch or anything, but when I unhook I always look back when I lower the implement to make sure both sides touch the ground at the same time, that is pretty level. It makes it a lot easier to reconnect it. Sometime I may have to get off the seat twice but it ain't too bad. Tommy

showcrop · Aug 17, 2016

(quoted from post at 07:05:21 08/17/16) There is absoulately NO way to attach the left link up on that ford or any other ford for that mater from the drivers seat unless you are 10' tall. I should say arms that are 5' long. I had the Naa and have a 2N and 9N, also a Ferguson TO30 all using the same lift arms. And I also had 2 Ford 4100 and a Ford 5100 (all 38" rear wheel models) with those telescoping arms and without them you could not hook up a piece that was large enough for them. I drove a Deere 2020 onec with a quick hitch with 7' rotary mower and that hitch should have been thrown in the junk. That 2020 and the Ford 4100 are just about identical in size and configuration.

Leroy, come on, I know that you can do it. Just watch the movie again. I do it all the time.

Telescoping Draft/Lift Links Question

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