Flexible Drawbar Cable Simplifies Hookups

Flexible Drawbar Cable Simplifies Hookups HITCHES Hitches 6-1-9 The "Wiggle Hitch" which we told you about in our March-April issue has been refined and made even more versatile. It's also been renamed the Kirsch Hydraulic Drawbar and is specially designed for one-man hookups of heavy, awkward implements to big tractors. A similar model is available for pickups. The new Hydraulic Drawbar leatures a flexible cable instead of a solid sliding arm as before. The cable can be moved anywhere from 27 to 40 in. side to side, depending on the model, and extends down 12 to 18 in. from the drawbar. "You simply back the tractor somewhat close to the implement hitch," explains manufacturer Ron Zwicker. "Then, you get off the tractor, extend the hitch to the implement, drop in the hitchpin and retrieve the implement hydraulically to the tractor. A special clip drops in to hold the hitch solidly in the drawbar. You can do all this right from the back of the tractor without getting on and off again," Zwicker notes. Two sizes are available: A model for tractors up to 200 hp., and another for tractors from 200 to 450 hp. It works with either 2 or 4 wheel drive tractors. The Hydraulic Drawbar bolts right onto the tractor in place of the existing drawbar. Hydraulics for the smaller model comes through the tractor's present outlets. The larger model uses the tractor's electrical system to power a separate 3,500 psi hydraulic pump that comes with the hitch. The hitch cable is surrounded with a series of steel beads that simplify pushing the cable out of the housing. The beads also protect the cable from damage. "We think this hitch will also be great for retrieving implement hitches buried in the mud. If you get stuck, you can release the pressure on the hitch, unhook and get realigned to the implement on dry ground so you can pull it out," Zwicker told FARM SHOW. The under-200 hp. model sells for $980, and the over-200 hp. model for $1,350. Zwicker has also introduced a similar hitch for use on 3 ton or larger pickups. It can hook into an existing hydraulic system on the truck, or an electrically-driven hydraulic unit is available for trucks without hydraulics. "With this hitch, you can use your truck to hook up to disks, chisel plows and other heavy implements, lift them up and pull them down the road between fields or for servicing," Zwicker points out. The truck-mounted unit sells for $950 for a truck with existing hydraulics, and $1,280 for the electrically-driven model. Both models mount on a bracket welded onto the trucks. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Zwibco Corp., Box 521, New Ulm, Minn. 56073 (ph 507 359-2352).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.