Linkage in Farm Machinery

Linkage in farm machinery
The three-point hitch is a widely used type of hitch for attaching ploughs and other implements
to an agricultural or industrial tractor.
Who invented the 3 point hitch?
Harry Ferguson
Harry Ferguson patented the three-point linkage for agricultural tractors in Britain in 1926. He
had long been a champion of the importance of rigid attachment of the plough to the tractor. The
idea did not originate with him, but he led its popularization over many years of development,
explaining, and selling
Three Point Hitch Components

The 3pt. hitch is made up of several components working together, including the tractor's
hydraulic system, the lifting arms, attaching points, and stabilizers. Each hitch has attachment
holes for attaching implements, and the implement has posts that fit through the holes. The
implement is secured by placing a pin on the ends of the posts.
A 3pt hitch is composed of 2 outer hitch lifting arms and a center top link. The 2 outer hitch arms
provide lifting, lowering, and can be adjusted to tilt an attachment, such as a plow. Both hitch
lifting arms are powered by the tractor's own hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is
controlled by the operator, and usually a variety of settings are available. The lift arms extend
rearward, and are the pull-point for the implement.
The center top link is movable, but usually not powered by a tractor's hydraulic system. This
point of attachment is the third mounting point, and it also extends rearward from a top middle
position at the rear of the tractor. Comparatively very little rearward force is applied from the top
link unless the implement becomes bound up or twisted in some way. The top link often has a
manual adjustment to achieve an optimum angle of attachment between the tractor and the
implement.
The primary benefit of the 3-point hitch system is to transfer weight and stress of an implement
to the rear wheels of a tractor. Larger implements require a corresponding larger-sized tractor
with 3-point hitch specifications grouped in 5 different categories.
There are 5 different hitch sizes, called categories. The higher category hitches have sturdier lift
arms and larger connector pins. There is some flexibility in the tractor hp at which one category
hitch ends and the next begins.
As an example, the Category I 3-point hitch is based on standards requiring that the pin sizes on the
implement and corresponding lift-arm holes be 7/8" (.88-.89). The top link uses a 3/4" (.76-.77) pin and
hole. The distance from the tail of the PTO shaft to the lift arm ends is approximately 14 inches. The
minimum spread between the lower lift arms will be about 26-27 inches, the maximum spread is
normally out to 33 inches or more.
Type Top Link Size Lift Arm Size Lift Arm Spacing Tractor Drawbar Horsepower
0 5/8 Inch 5/8 Inch 20 Inches Less Than 20
I 3/4 Inch 7/8 Inch 26 Inches Less Than 45
II 1 Inch 7/8 Inch 32 Inches 40 to 100
III 1 1/4 Inch 1 7/16 Inch 38 Inches 80 to 225
IV 1 3/4 Inch 2 Inch 46 Inches 180 to 400
See Diagram of Components

How to connect a 3 point hitch?
A three-point hitch is the style of linkage used on large farm tractors to attach equipment to the
back end. As the name signifies, the hitch attaches to the tractor at three points: the top center,
lower left and lower right.
Things You'll Need
 Farm tractor
 Farm implement
 2 hitch rods
 Adjustable drawbar
 4 locking hitch pins
Step 1,
Back the tractor up to the farm implement. The tractor needs to be exactly in-lined with the
mounting point of the implement, otherwise attaching the hitch will require you to move the
implement from side to side. Place the tractor in park.
Step 2
Lower the hydraulic lift arms so that they are level with the lower attachment points on the
implement.
Step 3
Push the lower attachment pin on the implement through the small floating ball on the tractor's
lift arms. Use a locking hitch pin on each attachment pin to secure the implement to the tractor.
Step 4
Attach one side of the adjustable drawbar to the top attachment point of the implement using a
hitch rod. Use a locking hitch pin to secure the drawbar.
Step 5
Attach the other end of the drawbar to the upper hitch point on the tractor using a hitch rod. Use
a locking hitch pin to secure the drawbar. The drawbar may need to be lengthened or shortened
to fit between the implement and the tractor.
Step 6
Using the hydraulic lift on the tractor, raise the implement just off the ground. You then can
adjust the drawbar to straighten the implement, if necessary.
PTOs & Safety
A power take-off (PTO) is a splined driveshaft, usually on a tractor that can be used to provide
power to an attachment or separate machine. It is designed to be easily connected and
disconnected. A PTO allows implements to draw energy from a tractor's engine. PTOs and
associated shafts and universal joints are a common cause of accidents, injuries, and death in
farming and industry. A great deal of tractor related fatalities in the USA involve PTOs. When a
piece of clothing touches a spinning PTO or joint it can be pulled around, and the person wearing
it can also be pulled around the shaft, often resulting in loss of limbs or death. Some implements
use plastic guards to try to keep a person from becoming entangled in a PTO shaft, but even with
guards caution around spinning PTO shafts is imperative.

Linkage in Farm Machinery

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Linkage in Farm Machinery

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Linkage in farm machinery

Three Point Hitch Components

See Diagram of Components

Things You'll Need

PTOs & Safety

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