Cat 0 Hitch on My 1450

[Berwil]

After doing a bit of research on this site, I came to the concensus that if I was going to build a hich for my tractor I should make a cat 0. So I did, it took me about 10 months, a bit of trial and error, but I got it done. I started at the rockshaft, I knew there had to be a way to use the frame location of the IH hitch. I found pics on another website of a guy who did it; from the pics I was able to copy it and make it work. I added a grease zerk so I can keep the shaft lubed without having to pull everything apart. My frame did not have the welded collars and since I am not a fan of frankenstein bolts, I made bolt-in instersts for the frame. They are the same thickness as the weld in collars and can be used with an IH lift rockshaft.

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For the lower lift arm mount, I welded on tabs that grab two of the axle tube bolts for more support. I welded the nuts on the back of the tabs so the pins could be supported without a nut on the outside, it gives more clearence between the tires. Since I had to remove my hitch plate to install, I decided to patch it up as well.

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I bent my own lift arms from 1/2" by 2" steel bar and welded swivels on each end. The lift links I made with 3/4" rod to give me adjustability for leveling etc.

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For the top link, I didn't want to rely on the back cover bolts so I added straps to bolts on top of the rear end. You can see in the top view pic, two notches I cut in the frame for more travel. The only other modification I made to the tractor was a notch on the corner of the battery box for lift arm clearence.

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Figuring out how I was going to attach the liftbar to the hydro lift took me the longest. I wanted to get the most lift I could and take advantage ot the 6" cylinder stroke. I decided to weld a "wing" onto the float arm of the tractor lift and attach the liftbar to that. Because that shaft pivots, its not 6" of throw, but still more than I would have gotten with the IH liftbar attachment. Another advantage is I get full 3 point travel no matter where the deck height adjuster is. It will be handy if I make a trailer dumper or rear scoop. Not all of us have a tractor for each task , so this will allow me to do more without having to take the deck off everytime.

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I only use the rear most hole in the liftbar, the two holes were originally a slot to allow the arms to float. I planned on making a shim that would go in the slot for downpressure should I want it. Interference on the other end of the liftbar with the frame made me shorten that end so I had had to weld the slot shut and lose the float. I may end up extending the bar so I can get the float back, will have to see how it works.

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Now that you've suffered through that, here it is! By pulling the pins on the lift links and the lower arm mounts I can easily remove the lift arms. It's not a bad thing since my first time blowing snow with them on I almost backed one arm in the side of my truck.

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Now that I have this done, I can get down to business of making this tiller run after 10 yrs of sitting. I bought this beauty....cause I had to, I'm sure most of you have been there. Besides, it gave me the excuse to build the cat 0.

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Bill

[jubilee]

Nice job Bill!

[FFGino]

And THEY say that American ingenuity is DEAD!!

Sooooo, when are they going to be ready to ship?

I retired from tool-making after 30 years and you do better work than some of the "engineers" that I had to work behind!!!

Great Work.

FFGino. Happy Cubbing!!

[1811woody]

Wow That looks great! good job It looks like you have some skills. I'm sure if your price was right you could sell them. Or at least the plans Any idea of the lift capacity or downward force? I'm sure its more then enough for what we do with our cubs. Nice tiller also

[Sam Mac]

Very well done!

[Oak]

Wow, very nice.

[ACecil]

Excellent job on the Cat 0!

[Cubcrazy]

Outstanding job Bill!

[yesmar74]

I'd say that's a job well done. Way to go Bill.

[mjsoldcub]

You hooked that s$!% UP!!!! very nice!! Ive been thinking and looking around at how i was going to do something similar one of these days, but you just road mapped it for me!! That is awesome, and looks better than the ones requiring the whole "plate", like it was oem equipment!! Great job....