Extension Hitch Solves Planter Turning Problem

Extension Hitch Solves Planter Turning Problem HITCHES “When we bought a front-fold planter and hooked it behind our Deere 8310 tractor with dual wheels we had difficulty making short turns ” says Pennsylvania farmer and seed dealer Lee Horst “Another problem was that the folded row units could drag on the ground and it was easy to tear up the seed firmers as I drove onto a field driveway that wasn’t completely level ” Horst looked into getting an extension hitch from his dealer and was shocked to learn they wanted more than $6 000 for a new one So he decided to build one himself Horst’s homemade extension fits on the 3-pt quick hitch of his tractor and extends the hitch pin mounting point back 3 ft beyond the regular drawbar That extra length and the fact he can raise and lower the hitch solved two problems at once “Now I don’t have to worry about short turns on the road or in the field ” Horst says “and I can raise the hitch almost 2 ft so the folded seed units are way off the ground If I’m planting I can also raise the hitch to go through waterways ” He made the hitch crossbeam vertical upright and diagonal support from 3/8-in thick by 3-in square tubing The crossbeam of the hitch extension is reinforced with a 1 1/2-in dia shaft from a combine feederhouse that Horst inserted on the inside of the tubing The shaft extends on both sides of the hitch and mounts directly into the quick hitch brackets “I wanted to make sure there wasn’t any side-to-side and up-down give to the extension ” Horst says “I’ve used it with the planter full of fertilizer and seed and it’s just as solid as the main hitch on the tractor ” Horst says his simple and sturdy hitch which cost him about $320 and a few hours of labor to build is much more versatile than a solid drawbar “It’s way handier in the field because I can raise the hitch whenever I need to and then return it to the level setting on the control dial At the end of the season when I’m cleaning the planter I can raise the hitch way up to get the row units a long ways off the ground ” Horst says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Lee Horst 1605 Goldenville Rd Gettysburg Penn 17325 ph 717 677-8564

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