How can I prevent scratches to my tractor hitch?

bit-wizard · Apr 14, 2010

JDX500 said:
Your Welcome! How do you like your HDAPS's? I just love the look.

Thanks -- I've been pleased with them. I have a decent hill in my front yard and was afraid that I may need the extra traction -- that and I liked the way they looked

RaisedByWolves · Apr 14, 2010

JDX500 said:
And this is the finished product.

But....but....What about the bottom?

.:hide:

GT_80 · Apr 14, 2010

bogieboy said:
Hmmm.....you could prevent scratches by never ever using it.......LOL

:ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto: :ditto:

subeluvr · Apr 14, 2010

JDX500 said:
To remove, use a screwdriver and angle the tip on the front inside of the washer and pry like heck.

And the black paint comes right off with the double sided tape?

JDX500 · Apr 14, 2010

subeluvr said:
And the black paint comes right off with the double sided tape?

I'll assume that's a question that comes off as a statement. But no, the paint is not harmed. It's the same adhesive they use on body side moldings.

JDX500 · Apr 14, 2010

RaisedByWolves said:
But....but....What about the bottom?

.:hide:

I wasn't aware you needed it on the bottom. All my attachments are weighted to some extent. They push down, not up. Besides, all JD's have about a 1/4 inch lip underneath the hitch around the hole.

Juggler · Apr 14, 2010

Jig Stick said:
I found this thing at Lowes yesterday. It works really well. It doesnt slide from side to side. This may be an option for people who dont want to get their tractor backplate scratched. You can bolt this thing on and everything attaches to it. You can put a hitch ball on it as well, but I havent gotten one yet. I put this on my GX345 yesterday and pulled an aerator with it. it worked great.

http://www.lowes.com:80/pd_317694-6...2184&identifier=HITCHIN'+POST&langId=-1&storeId=10151&ddkey=http:ProductDisplay

I just bought one of these. Good looking unit, but whether the ball is too low is another matter. I'll give it a try, if it doesn't work out, I'll put it on my brothers CC. I have a snowmobile trailer to move around, they are kinda low anyway. I like the idea of a 1 1/4" receiver though.

subeluvr · Apr 14, 2010

JDX500 said:
I'll assume that's a question that comes off as a statement. But no, the paint is not harmed. It's the same adhesive they use on body side moldings.

I was pretty sure that ? = question

Thanks for the reply and the pics... good idea.

papa smurf · Apr 14, 2010

bogieboy said:
Hmmm.....you could prevent scratches by never ever using it.......LOL

yea other that that... i got nuttin. but i hear ya man. i never worried so much about scratches and stuff on anything i ever owned. i expect i'll get real good at touch up. i got a little cordless dremel tool and with that and maybe some masking tape and a rattle can, i can fight off the rust.

as for the new tractor smell, im still checkin around for some JD tractor shaped air fresheners to hang from... something.

amf1414 · Apr 15, 2010

i can't believe everyone here missed the obvious answer what the op needs to do is to buy another tractor an older one that already has some scratches and then use that to pull whatever you need. its the perfect reason to get another tractor.:thThumbsU :thThumbsU

a plus bob · Apr 17, 2010

I bought a hitchin post for my GX255 looks stout for a Lowes product.I read about it here and bought it.:thanku:

MTD snow plow · Apr 17, 2010

I just gring it to bare metal (gets rust off) and prime and paint, EASY!!!!

Jig Stick · Apr 18, 2010

My hitchin post is holding up good. I pulled a thatcher and plug aerator and it worked nicely.

gooberguy · Apr 18, 2010

Anybody worrying about the scratches and possibility of rust on the hitch will probably bust a hemoroid when you see what the lockwasher does to the underside, if you use a ball. I am all for protecting equipment, but lets be realistic. Besides, I would like to see what your hammers look like.

quickrch · Apr 26, 2010

a plus bob said:
I bought a hitchin post for my GX255 looks stout for a Lowes product.I read about it here and bought it.:thanku:

I found one at Lowes too and bought it then found out you had already posted on it. I pulled logs (big ones) out of the woods with it and it held up fine. Made the same mistake with the tow ball and will be returing my long one for a shorter one too.

fastfreddy · May 17, 2010

bit-wizard said:
That sounds like a great approach, JDX500. Thanks for posting it.

I was trying out something somewhat similar using a nylon washer with a 3" OD, 1" ID, and 1/8" thickness that I got a True Value for less than $1. I wasn't securing it to the hitch, though -- I was just letting it float. It works fairly well.

I like your suggestion better than what I've been doing though. Seems better all around because it won't let debris get between the washer and the hitch plate, which could mar it up.

I'll give it a try! :trink40:

I didn't read through all the posts to see if this idea had been suggested but it solved all my problems and I can level out the various attachments due to the 2" rise.

I was a rubber roofer when I first came home from service and we used firestone rubber on the roofs which is very strong and I went to the old company and asked for a piece of scrap to put between the tractor and the new hitch and that stuff will hold up especially with no friction once it's torqued down.

The hitch also allows me to turn sharper with my ohio steel roller since it comes with a very very short tongue.

The price of $49.95 includes shipping and they ship it fast.

http://www.yardandgardendirect.com/hitchadapters.htm

subeluvr · May 17, 2010

fastfreddy said:
I didn't read through all the posts to see if this idea had been suggested but it solved all my problems and I can level out the various attachments due to the 2" rise.

It also allows me to turn sharper with my ohio steel roller since it comes with a very very short tongue.

The price of $49.95 includes shipping and they ship it fast.

http://www.yardandgardendirect.com/hitchadapters.htm

I liked that one but it is prone to turning (spinning) since it's only held by the one bolt.

You might want to customize it by drilling it and the hitch plate for a split roll pin to keep it from turning.

fastfreddy · May 17, 2010

I hope it doesn't start spinning

but I have a pretty heavy roller behind it that doesn't cause any spinning so far but if it does then it's going back.

subeluvr · May 17, 2010

fastfreddy said:
I hope it doesn't start spinning but I have a pretty heavy roller behind it that doesn't cause any spinning so far but if it does then it's going back.

Just drill it and pin it... it's an easy mod.

I'd be more worried about the added leverage a heavy roller would have on the tractor hitch plate due to the added length of the hitch.

pirate · May 27, 2010

Bolt something like this on, with a piece of innertube under it to protect the paint.

How can I prevent scratches to my tractor hitch?

bit-wizard

RaisedByWolves

GT_80

subeluvr

JDX500

JDX500

Juggler

subeluvr

papa smurf

amf1414

a plus bob

MTD snow plow

Jig Stick

gooberguy

quickrch

fastfreddy

subeluvr

fastfreddy

subeluvr

pirate

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