hitches angle and thoughts why

[Slowmo57]

hitches angle and thoughts of every buddy

I have seen a lot of different hitches over my 38 years pulling.
Cheating ones (floating )
? Pitched up hard
? pitched down hard
? strait hitch no pitch because of groups rules.
? Long hitch 20 from center (said because pulling on hard or soft track to get frontend to lift)
? 18 on dot more down pressure
? Height up and down always max unless front is light and no way to move any more weight to front
? Really wide hole where chain goes
? Oval hole
? round hole
? square hole
? hitch in line with hook point
?
Everything works good for every one differently . I know I must of missed some areas of hitches. Why does one person work good or is it just his hole set up and driving skills??I SAY YES TO THIS ONE. This is some things me and some of my puller friend talk about. Anyone else ever do same.?
 

[mdross]

Our club's rules say where our hitches can be and how big the hook hole has to be. The hitch I built attaches to the tractor on the draw bar frame and triangulates up to the rear axle housing. Changing over to it from a modified drawbar has put me in the winners circle a lot. The rest was weight placement.
 

[VicS]

Slomo I don't think it makes any difference the angle of your hitch. It's all solid steel. But because of some rules on my Allis I have welded a flat plate to make hitch level. Rear end of.a.Allis is way higher than 20". Just a tip from your picture. Keep front wheels strait when off the ground. When you come down acts just like a brake. Lean left to make tractor go right. Sorry just helpful hint for.today. Have I pulled with you on my 435 JD.
 

[Slowmo57]

yep I agree about front tires,that is my 15 year old nephew in pic.he has been pulling for a few years now.He was a little nervus pulling inside for first time.
 

[Slowmo57]

Yes, I remember your 435 JD tuff tractor. I built Slow Mo 20 years ago. How long have you had 435 JD ? I know it has been a long time.
 

[VicS]

I think 8 years.
 

[showcrop]

What you want for a hitch is a "transfer hitch". I believe that two brands of tractors had them. The drawbar is mounted in a linkage that causes it to pull up and out when when the load comes on. These are especially helpful when pulling light and your tractor is nose heavy. It is not recommended though unless you have a close relative or good buddy on the scale or running the pull.
 

[Slowmo57]

LOL Showcrop

I don't want to cheat. My post was just to see if anyone thought any style hitch built gives a advantage over another one built. Just some fun talk among fellow pullers.
 

[mmfan55]

Hitch design does make a difference. Again, not a one size fits all situation. Takes some experimenting.
 

[oros35]

As long as the hitch is fixed and can't move, the shape or design of the hitch doesn't matter. Pick up an engineering statics 101 book and start reading. Build your free body diagram and it will be clear. It doesn't matter how you get from point A to point B on the diagram, the resulting forces and moments will be the same.

Only time it would make a difference is if the hitch point would move in relation to the tractor during a pull. Which is illegal everywhere I've ever pulled.

What you want to do is design your hitch to meet safety rules, keep the weight down, and have it as adjustable as possible. Moving your hitch point 1/2" up or in makes a huge difference in how the force from the chain gets applied to your tractor.
 

[20MuleTeam]

Exactly correct. Took Statics 101 55 yrs ago & that's what was taught. Still true today.
 

[535353m]

MMfan55, I agree with you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Makes a huge difference,we have all used a crow bar to lift stuff,angle matters most.
 

[mmfan55]

Thanks 535353M. I have built several U moline tractors and experimented with different hitch designs. Some I pulled a few times and changed the hitch to a previous design. I will not debate what self proclaimed experts write in a book. I know what experience taught me. Experience says it makes a difference. Same model tractors. Accurate comparisons
 

[jdth]

Agree with both MM & 53! There is a reason NTPA & PPL limit the angle of the drawbar.
 

[Curt Smith]

Angle makes no differece. Its how and where you bolt it up. Your 3rd bullet point is on the mark.