Quick Hitch
This is an intermediate attachment that gathers the ends of the lower and top links into a single A-shaped frame and catches and locks the implement from above. When the operator drives the hitch under the implement triangle and lifts, all three connections seat at the same time; because pins are not fitted one by one, implement changes get noticeably shorter.
The hitch reduces the three separate alignment jobs of the three point linkage to a single movement. The tractor is reversed, the hitch is lowered a little, the frame is taken under the implement's linkage triangle, and when it is raised the hooks catch the pins. Locking is usually completed with a spring latch or a lever lock.
- The frame must match its own category; a Cat.1 implement does not seat directly on a Cat.2 frame.
- The frame moves the implement a few centimetres away from the tractor; this reduces the effective lift capacity somewhat.
- Visually confirm the locking latch after every attachment.
The real gain of the quick hitch appears when it is combined with control from outside the cab. With a fender switch or the external control of an electronic retrofit kit, you can move the hitch centimetre by centimetre while standing next to the implement and bring the frame exactly to the right point. The trial-and-error trips of climbing in and out of the cab are eliminated.
The context in which this term is used: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control