Can a Sleeve hitch be converted to a Three-Point hitch?
 

Does anyone know if there is a way or kit to convert a Sleeve hitch machine to three-point? There are 2 attachments that I would be using most often which only come in three-point. I'm looking at a 105 now that is likely going to be going for too much $$$. The ability to convert a sleeve would greatly increase my options as to what machine I could buy (And surely help my budget as well! Lol).
Thanks muchly in advance for any help

Aaron at xtrememotorworks.com sells 3pt hitches for most all the Cub Cadets. They are a reproduction/custom hitch. The only Cat 0 3pt that was installed started in the '82 series tractors. Prior to that, the sleeve hitch was all that was available.

I don't know what implement you are wanting to use that you claim is only available in 3pt..... most any garden tractor implement is (or was) available in sleeve hitch. Unless you are looking at a 105 with hydraulic lift, I think your going to be pretty disappointed at how little you will be able to pick up with manual lift and a Cat 0 hitch. If you really need 3pt, I'd go to a SGT.

http://www.xtrememotorworks.com/


They have a kit, but you are not going to like the price. He makes really nice things, its just a complicated kit. There was not an IH built 3 point for the narrow frames.


What are you wanting to do that needs the 3 point? You can find about any kind of implement you could want for the sleeve hitch.


And by all means, give us some pics of your tractor. We love pics!






Randy

I think member and sponsor, Jeff in PA, will be able to help you......

He doesn't make 3pt hitches.....

This will be my first machine. I previously thought the only option was a compact with a loader which I haven't the room for nor would be worth the cost, Then I found out this could work well. What is a SGT? The attachments I found were a carry all and boom arm, But when I tried searching for them as sleeve attachments I found nothing. The purpose of the tractor would be for moving around furniture, appliances, etc. (I buy and sell random items often bought mixed in bulk and am reaching the point where the body just doesn't let me pick up a dresser and carry it 100' anymore. lol). I wasn't worried about the lift as I figured once I had the basics I could modify a winch with pulleys or something for that. Clearly I still have very little knowledge with this sort of thing. Being able to push snow in the winter would be a great bonus as well but not the main intent.

The 105 i'm looking at has a plow and deck and was completely redone including an upgrade to a 12hp kohler motor. I'm willing to go to $800 for it, but I think much beyond that is better off waiting for another to come along. The more I look the more i like the cubs and they seem to have the most readily available parts/options/etc. I'm also in long island, ny which eliminates many options due to freight/logistic cost/time.

Forgot to add this 105 also has an electric lift for the plow, so im thinking i could get a second plow for the bracket and weld up something (Only has to carry 2-300lbs)

Oh...... no, sir you are confused. Garden tractors have a Cat 0 hitch. The implements you are talking about would be Cat 1 minimum. You aren't going to be able to lift anything on a boom or carry all with a cat 0 hitch and manual lift. The electric lift won't pick up that much, and they are usually shot.

Sounds like what you need is a sub compact tractor. If you can't justify that, then maybe you need to fab up something of your own. Either on a Cub, or something else.

An SGT is a Super Garden Tractor.

Yes I was fully expecting to have to make some modification from the cat 0 - cat 1 (Though i did find a couple places that had "Adapter" pins I have NO expectation that it would be that easy. I checked the xtrememotorworks link and it wasn't that unreasonable. However it now raised the question that tractordata shows the 105 as one of the few with the "cub cadet three point" option, but xtreme shows an option for narrow frames, but not 100 series. Seems kinda contradicting. I'm good with the ingenuity, just trying to find the right base

No.... you just don't understand what you are reading.

A 105 is not a "100 series" it is a 1X4/5 series, and it is a NF (narrow frame) tractor. The "Cub Cadet 3pt hitch" is not a true 3pt. It is what all the other garden tractor manufacturers called a sleeve hitch. It was never offered with true 3pt. Xtreme makes a custom one for it.

No, simply changing pins from cat 1 to 0 isn't going to work. Hitch width and height is different..

Randy,
I have been using tractordata to try and help and it showed the 105 as having a "Cub Cadet three-point" as an option. Seeing as what you mentioned (Which im more so inclined to believe) I am no wondering if that is actually so as its the largest basis for bidding on this 105. If tractordata is in fact incorrect then I would rather wait and find another. I know im doing it to myself, but the not so complicated, yet complicated list i'm trying to stick with is as follows:
min. 10 hp, hydrostatic, three-point hitch at least 25-30 years old, preferably under $800

ALL of the Cub Cadet garden tractors were available with a Cub Cadet 3 point. ALL of them..... The later GT's (1984 ish) and up were available with a Cat 0 hitch. At that time, the "sleeve hitch" was dropped.

Ok, thats actually what I was first thinking, but second guessed it. I was thinking I would end up cutting off and re configuring the points on the attachments and likely getting the bars from a cat 1 hitch and cutting and welding them to the cat 0 bars or some combination of both

thanks for the heads up. I'm thinking to leave this 105 alone then and look for one of the gt's you mentioned. I find it rather amazing that there aren't conversions from sleeve to three-point for the machines. or readily available loaders for all of these garden tractors seeing that in my own experience it seems there is a high demand for them

Then you will have done all that work and find out you can barely lift the implement, let alone the implement with anything on it.

Better look for a SCUT (sub compact utility tractor)....... or at the very least, a tractor with hydraulic lift and 3pt. From the sounds of it, you need a loader tractor.

just to be sure i get it the cub cadet three-point is really a sleeve hitch then, correct. However xtreme makes an actual three-point (cat o) that would fit on any narrow frame cub.

3 pt hitch simply means there are 3 points of attachment. The lift bar and 2 lower points. Cat 0 up standardized the measurements and pin sizes.

I may be wrong, but I believe a sleeve hitch is an additional piece that connects to the 3 point.

But as J-Mech has said, for what you want to do, you need a bigger tractor.

The rear lifts were meant to lift implements. Not heavy items.

Yes.

Basically the cub cadet 3pt needed an adapter to work with "industry standard" sleeve hitch implements. IH offered a tiller, rear blade/ rake combo and a box blade that only work with the IH hitch. IH didn’t even offer the adapter, Brinly did. It's kind of confusing if you aren't familiar with it.

yes quite confusing. it doesn't at all help that I live in a place where these are rare items so I can't even just go see the two physically to know the difference. I'm good with creativity/fabrication and was looking for the three based on what i was able to gather from reading. That seemed to say the three-point was three individual links (one for stability and two for lifting) and the sleeve was a single link for lifting with a "U" shaped bar that provided two other points of attachment for stability. The individuals supposedly are better for moving over varied terrain where as supposedly the sleeve would be to rigid for say going up/down an incline on an angle. Again this is only what i've gathered from reading. I have a small 60x100 lot in surburbia so I need something tiny in size (beyond expense sub compact is physically to big as I need to pass through an area 50" wide). My first intention was to get a garden tractor and make my own loader (I figured i could do it for about $1300-1500) then saw the attachments and thought that might be easier. There is always the thought of just modifying a tow cart to a dolly and at least removing the carrying part from the back equation, lol

I looked at a sears super 12 locally but it needed much work and id rather hydro. Now after your helpful advice im considering a cub 109 on ebay with plow, chains, and weights for $700. Price does seem a bit high though and its a 7hr drive away. If nothing else I'm getting a good education here and that is priceless. thanks

Depending on condition, $700 for the 109 may be a good deal.

You say Cubs are a rarity where you live..... odd.... Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland..... all those states are the most "cub rich". Now, New York is a big state.... but there are several members here from New York and they usually find things for better prices than we see in my state, which is actually pretty saturated with Cubs.

There are older SCUT tractors that are not much bigger than a Cub Cadet and would definitely fit in a 50" opening. I'm not trying to talk you out of a CC.... but I want you to find what you need. Look at older (30-40 year old) Yanmar, Kubota, or even Ford small tractors. For what you want, an IH Lo-boy with 3pt would fit the bill better, and is under 50" wide. All these are out there and usually be had in the neighborhood of $3,000. Lo-boy's usually bring $1500-$2000. If you buy a cub and build a loader, or buy a loader for one, that's not much more than you're going to have in it.

Too bad your not closer. I have a 185 Lo-boy with 3pt I want to sell.

I find lots of options north of the city. There seem to be very few actually available here on long island and many of them seem overpriced compared to what I see elsewhere ($400-$500 for non running machine w/no deck, etc.). I actually really like the look/style of the lowboys. I have only seen one in person and it was definitely to big for this space. I assumed they were all roughly that size. I'm going to broaden my horizons though and look into them further. I do really appreciate all the info as it has been quite helpful. Without it I would have spent way to much on the 105 I believed was right only to find out I wasn't. lol
I found a 1650 about 2hrs away that has no spark for under $400 to look into (Awaiting reply from the seller). I'm thinking it might be something to start with and I could make a dolly type trailer for a couple bucks to move things around on for now and take more time to find exactly what i'm looking for long term wise. Not that its an option, but where are you located?

I just looked up the lo boys on tractordata and they are too big to fit without accounting for a loader. Perhaps not the most cost effective, but I think the garden tractor is the way to go. loader would be nice, but the more I see and learn I'm certain there are a variety of things I could do to make things work. There is a ford lgt I found and really liked (I'm all about the ford trucks), but everything about them leans toward having to buy 3 others for parts. and the little sears tractors are pretty cool, but i see all kinds of issues with finding parts as well. I think the cub is far and away the best way to go. Just wish I had learned of them years ago.

Don't neglect to consider the green ones, although they usually command a hefty price.

I thought you said it had to fit in a 50" wide opening? I'm pretty sure mine isn't that wide, but I'd have to double check..... There are narrow and wide tires available for them. Mine has the tall narrow tires.

Tractordata shows them at 52" wide and nearly 8' long without anything attached though i am more inclined to go with the guy speaking to me that actually has one. lol. I think at this point i'm about convinced to go with the smaller machine and do the custom build thing. The trailer is in the way a bit now, but this is the space I have to fit through with items like china cabinets, dressers, etc.

sorry the photos went sideways (I'm good with nuts/bolts/hands not technology, lol)

Yeah.... I assumed you meant like a gate. Not a sidewalk/alleyway. Even if a LB is 48", it would be pretty precarious driving down that. Your pretty limited.

How did the stuff get back there when they brought them to you?
Just asking.
Get some dollies and move the furniture that way, you can buy or make a bunch of them for less than a cub cadet.

I have a shed in the back I keep all the bulky furniture, etc. that generally sits for awhile before it sells. As of now I carry everything or when necessary improvise with hand truck/cart combination (There is about 50' of lawn between the end of the pavement and the shed). The body just isn't agreeing with the practice anymore and I've reached a decision to make a solution somehow instead of just going with the belief that the only option is a compact that simply wont fit regardless of expense. The solution is definitely here in the garden tractor, just have to apply some ingenuity to make it all work. I love a challenge anyway. Whatever it ends up I will gladly show it as the input from y'all has helped narrow things down and create better ideas to grow from.

the tractor would also create the all around solution to both work and everything else including the dreaded snow (I know many of you get it much worse, but just saying). I often get side jobs cleaning/clearing yards, landscaping projects, etc. Just seems to be an all around beneficial decision. The new toy is always a bonus too!

I'll echo much of what JMech has said. You should be looking for a SCUT (Sub compact utility tractor). If it were me, I'd find one with a loader and put a pair of clamp-on forks on the front bucket to pick up furniture and carry it around. BXpanded.com has the forks.

Thanks. Although that would be ideal its simply to large physically. Now learning a whole lot more I think the best option is going to find a machine at least 12hp. I'm thinking to fabricate a sort of mini forks based that would attach like a snowplow and add a hydro pump, pistons, etc. for the lift function. At the very least if it doesn't work out there is always making a dolly type trailer for a couple of bucks and eliminating the labor of hand truck/cart issues plus the benefit of something to handle other tasks/jobs as they come up.

The front lift mechanism uses a rod to lift. It won't pick up the 200# you are wanting to lift.

Hey, listen. I really want to help you out, but it just seems to me that your mind is made up. It really doesn't sound to me like you know all that much about tractors in general. I come from an AG background, and have spent the last 20 years or so as a diesel mechanic, and out of those 20, 15 of which I have had my own business. I have a lot of fabrication skills and a lot of experience at it. Built quite a few pieces of equipment we used on our farm (while my immediate family still farmed).

That said, I'm going to tell you one more time...... There are sub compact utility tractors out there that will fit within the confines that you have. Personally, I think you either need to consider remodeling or relocating your storage facility. Getting a machine to help you sounds like a good idea, but lets get real here.... it's no picnic even with a machine to get in and out of your set up. I think the real issue is your facility/property.
Anyway, back to the tractor.... the only real option you have if going to use a cub cadet is to build a trailer. You say your mechanical and good at fabrication....... sorry to be rude or blunt, but I've heard that from people on here before. The people that are mechanical and good at fabrication are the ones who post up pics of what they made and didn't need to ask a million questions, or "run it by" people on the internet.

So, that said, here's my advice: We've given you a lot of info that you requested. Most of us have given you our opinion on the type of machine you need to buy. You can take the advice, or not. Go buy what you are going to buy and get started making whatever it is you are going to make. You don't need to run every idea by us....

One more time: I don't think a garden tractor is what you need.

Here's what you need. Good luck finding one.

I thought about mentioning that..... but I was afraid he would think we were serious, lol. Or try to make one! :biggrin2:

Honestly though, what do used forklifts go for? I'd think you might be able to find an old beat up one that you could get going cheap enough. Would fit the bill perfectly for what you need, especially considering you have a lot of concrete to run it on.

Just a thought.

A lot. You'd be surprised. Just a set of forks are several hundred dollars.

His best option for this task is a small fork lift, even a electric walk behind is good enough but the 50' of lawn need to be paved first. You can find them at "Gobernement" auction every where for a fair or very "Lew" price.

Here one auction in your backyard...(Syracuse/NY)http://www.corpassets.com/auctions/associated-spring-2/

If you've got level concrete all you need is one of these. It's called a pallet jack or pallet truck. You can move many hundreds of pounds around with almost no effort and they only cost a couple hundred bucks new. Probably find a used one real cheap.