Custom hitch accessory, a la Canary Al

tiretrx · Apr 20, 2017

Hey sports fans. A while back our good bud, Al, asked me about taking part in designing/building hitch accessories for his Pro-12. One would be for utilizing a swivel wheel to make moving it around easier, and the other to provide a platform for counterweight when heavy attachments were being utilized. That conversation was roughly eight years ago. Regardless, the time has come and hopefully we'll get it done and it will function as it did in our heads.

First mission was to remove the stock hitch from the Pro-12. During this, one thing was quite apparent..........this is one beautiful machine. As good as I've seen a machine this age, that actually gets used. Not mint mind you, but the kind of machine that makes you a bit paranoid when you're working on it. You start looking at nicks and scratches and saying, "wait, was that there when Al dropped it off????", lol! So, with the machine's looks in mind, there has to be a bit more than function built into the project.

My main objective was to make it so both missions were accomplished with one unit, and that switching from third wheel to counterbalance was easy to perform. And without a bunch of tools involved.

The work started today, and the raw materials, along with the stock hitch are in the picture. The plan is for me to fab it up, and then Al will do the install/finish work, etc. Stay tuned.

N2 Tractors · Apr 20, 2017

Sub'd I love seeing what other people conjure up when it comes to custom Fab'd tractor stuff

arcam8123 · Apr 20, 2017

This is going to be interesting!

PA RedRider · Apr 20, 2017

Dual pillars that allowed for the use of rubberized weight machine weights or the Gravely 15 lb front wheel weights would be the way to go. In other word, something along the lines of the rider weight rack but adapted for a 2 - wheeler hitch.

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tiretrx · Apr 20, 2017

A couple pics that might make things a bit clearer, design-wise. You were probably looking at the raw material, and saying......wth???? The 6" square tube was in stock and it had the width and the corner radius size I wanted. It was cut to length, and cut in half length ways. Then narrowed 5/8" to fit inside the hitch ears. This is just a rough mock-up showing a general location of the main plate and how it will play off the existing hitch. Used the tire radius on the transition curve in hopes of easing the blend. I'm trying to keep "sharpness" out of the look as much as I can.

BOSOX · Apr 21, 2017

Looking good, Ellis, keep the progress photos coming!

tracktortag · Apr 21, 2017

I think I get the plan.:fing32:

Ingersoll444 · Apr 21, 2017

I cant quite see how its coming together yet... but the progress is looking good!

Canary Al · Apr 22, 2017

Well hello there Ellis! I'm late to the theater but major gassed to see you underway my friend. So fortunate to have your inventive mind and incredible skill set focused on my project.

I traveled to the west coast on business the day you started this and have been out of touch on being online. I don't do MTF from my phone at all. Very exciting to get on the web this morning and find this!!!!! Yesssssss! :thThumbsU:dancingpa

I'm not certain of the plan yet, but have total confidence it will end up the best.

What fortune to watch another Ellis thread and it's my Pro-12.

As far as where any scratches might have come from, no need to be concerned at all. It's a working machine.

As some may remember I felt very Lucky indeed to acquire this machine. I give all my tractors a nickname and this one's is "Mr Lucky". Sure was a good choice as what could be more Lucky than having you design this important mod.

glenn27 · Apr 22, 2017

Ah--Yes--another Fab thread--on board now-Dude! Let's roll!

glenn

tiretrx · Apr 24, 2017

PA RedRider said:
Dual pillars that allowed for the use of rubberized weight machine weights or the Gravely 15 lb front wheel weights would be the way to go. In other word, something along the lines of the rider weight rack but adapted for a 2 - wheeler hitch.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

Had a similar idea in set-up, but have to say, I absolutely love your idea of incorporating Gravely front wheel weights. They are the right weight to alter the weight to suit application, and the Gravely tie-in is huge to me.

How much weight did you say we needed, Al? Would 60 lbs cover everything? If so, do you have 4 Gravely front wheel weights in stock? Anyone? Bueller?

I appreciate the kind words, Al. Thanks. Honestly, just feeling my way through this based off the third wheel platform design I got in my noggin.

PA RedRider · Apr 24, 2017

60 lbs. should be very close to the amount needed to counterbalance a 28" quick hitch ma210 blower on a k301s powered 2 wheeler.

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Canary Al · Apr 24, 2017

I too like the idea of "keeping it Gravely". nd I do have front wheel weights in my collection.

I don't think anywhere near 60 lbs is needed however, and here is why. When I brought this home, I could hardly move it because the pressure needed to push the handle bars down was so great. I devised a cobbled temporary solution - long bolt with 2 10 lb barbells -

Twenty lbs brought it to near balanced with the 28" snowblower on the front.

For certain it wouldn't need dual pillars.

PA RedRider · Apr 24, 2017

See this thread: http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=713473

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PA RedRider · Apr 24, 2017

I ended up right at 65 lbs. for a 5665. Granted it was mounted higher on the hitch.

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tiretrx · Apr 24, 2017

Canary Al said:
Twenty lbs brought it to near balanced with the 28" snowblower on the front.

For certain it wouldn't need dual pillars.

Sounds good, Al. I can make any weight you want out of these steel sleeves I have. Or you can go single pillar and use either one or two of the Gravely front weights, depending on need. That's the last hurdle, as I'm completing the third wheel function first. That should be done in a couple days/end of the week. Just getting in little blocks of time at work............ship parts are booming right now :fing32:

Canary Al · Apr 24, 2017

What Ellis and I have discussed is a set up that allows flexibility. So if all you have out front is a lighter attachment you can adjust to just a little, or alot of weight.

The early discussions was about a pillar that was mounted so it could be set in 2 or 3 positions to leverage the weight to further from the fulcrum as needed. Picture how a drum kit has such, to place a cymbal where the drummer wants it.

Ellis will have the right idea. Of that I have no doubt.

PA RedRider · Apr 24, 2017

Note that my solution was incompatible with steering brakes.

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tiretrx · Apr 25, 2017

Made some progress yesterday. Baby steps, but the picture's getting clearer.

Hoping to get the attachment points done and the main frame tacked up today. Right now there's still "extra" to be trimmed/shaped. The curved portion was me getting personal with a hammer and anvil. Enjoyable. So far, pleased.

Canary Al · Apr 25, 2017

Now I;m starting to see the vision you have Ellis.

One question. Do we know if the operator's feet are far enough back so as to not be unintentionally bumping into that?

Perspective is hard from afar, but it looks longer (toward the operator) than I expected. Also the swivel wheel will turn back toward aft end as well.

Perhaps we'll need to do a smaller wheel? Just thinking out loud.

That in itself will add some counterweight. It looks very stout - very Gravely.

Custom hitch accessory, a la Canary Al

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Canary Al

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