huffy Posted May 16, 2014 Posted May 16, 2014 I decided to build 3 point hitches for my Legacy and Sunstar. I started with the Legacy. Though I'm straying from the OEM design, here's a schematic and a couple pictures of Josh's to showing what the OEM hitch looked like: I started by making the main frame for the hitch. I forgot to take pics while I was bending it, but basically I just tack welded some pieces of angle to my work bench to make a form, then heated and bent the bar around it. The tops of the main frame have to be cut at an angle to match the angle on the back of the tractor frame so that it can set in far enough for the bottom to line up with the holes on the tongue: The OEM design uses plates on top of the main frame. But I didn't have any plate, and didn't want to buy any, so I used some bar stock that I had and went this route: Factoring in all the pilot holes, there's a ton of drilling to be done to make one of these. This is boring out for the rock shaft: Here's a test fit on the tractor with the rock shaft in and a mockup of the lift arms:
huffy Posted May 16, 2014 Author Posted May 16, 2014 Here it is on the bench after I rounded off the ends and cleaned it up a bit: For some reason, Simplicity got cheap with their design for the 3 point hitch on the Legacy's and omitted bearings that could be changed for wear. I didn't like that, so I got some heavy duty bushings that I pressed into shaft collars that will be welded on the inside of the frame: Comparing this pic with the schematic for the OEM, you can see how my design significantly increases the surface area within which the rocker shaft rotates. That should help reduce wear. And, of course, the bushings can be changed out as needed. I also removed the set screw from the shaft collar and drilled a small hole through the bearing. I'll put a grease fitting in the set screw hole so that I can keep the rock shaft greased: Since Simplicity failed to include any bushings for the rock shaft, they also simply welded the lift arms to the shaft instead of making them removable. I want mine to be removable so that I can replace the bushings if needed. So, I'm welding shaft collars on the outsides of the arms and am going to see if I can find a machinist that will cut key slots for me. If not, I'll simply weld on the outside of the shaft collars. That way, if I want to remove the arms, I can just grind off the welds without damaging the arms, replace the bearings, and then weld them back on. I also put bushings (they're not washers) between the frame and the lift arms, which is something that Simplicity also didn't do: Last night I cut the brackets that will hold the top adjusting arm. The original OEM design just used two bars that stuck straight out. But, as you can see from the pics of Josh's, the L design is necessary if you attach a rear 540 rpm PTO's. I don't have one of the PTO's, but am hoping I find one someday so I'm going ahead and using the L design: Threading the lift rod: Cutting the bracket for the end of the lift rod: All I gotta do now is weld it on: That's as far as I've gotten for now. I'll post more pics if I can ever find time to work on it some more.
Brettw Posted May 16, 2014 Posted May 16, 2014 Great fabrication job. Looks solid and professional. Nice!dOddOd
GLPointon Posted May 16, 2014 Posted May 16, 2014 Awesome work Chris...I'll be copying the SS design for my 1918 Ultima The legacy back end looks alot like the Sunstar....? I have yet to see a legacy in person
fishnwiz Posted May 16, 2014 Posted May 16, 2014 :O AGAIN!! I am humbled by the ability of the membership. I envy the skill and knowledge base of the people who frequent this site. I am lucky if I can rebuild a carb let alone build a 3 pt hitch from scratch! Very impressive! :I
huffy Posted May 17, 2014 Author Posted May 17, 2014 Greg: The Legacy and SS frames are different. The SS frame uses much bigger channel. I think I've got some picks of a SS 3 point somewhere, and will send them to you as soon as I find them.
huffy Posted May 18, 2014 Author Posted May 18, 2014 Thanks for all the nice comments, guys. It was boating/golf weather this weekend, so I didn't make any progress on this project. Hopefully I'll find some time one evening this week to work on it and be able to post some more pics.
fishnwiz Posted May 19, 2014 Posted May 19, 2014 Boating! Now that IS something I am good at!!fishfishfishfish!
huffy Posted May 27, 2014 Author Posted May 27, 2014 Well, I finally got back around to working on this project again. Aside from a little tweaking and painting, I've about got it done.I tapped for grease fittings for the rockshaft, which the oem version does not have. I also made one of the plates that holds the trunion removable so that the trunion can be replaced as it wears, which again is something that the oem version does not have. And, everything on the tractor for the final test fit before I take it all down to be cleaned and painted.
GrincheyOne Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 Chris, I'm glad to see those "trademark Huffy" zerks. Never can have enough of those! Nice results... Btw a good source of plate are the side panel from old machines (on the transaxle to BGB). Old rear lift members yield good solid strap steel. Check a local NAPA for machining, our NAPA in Pennsburg PA has a shop in back. Nice project, Wayne
huffy Posted May 28, 2014 Author Posted May 28, 2014 I forgot to mention before that I owe BIG thanks to Josh Thornton and Steve Levchak. Each of them provided me with numerous pics, measurements, and other info or ideas that I used to fab this up. Steve's actually in the process of making a 3 point for his Sunstar, which includes a weight rack. I've seen pics, and it's beautiful work. Perhaps he'll post some pics for all to see . . .
PhanDad Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 Awesome! Your profile indicates you are an attorney. Never met an attorney here in the East with your mechanical/fab skills. Definitely a unique combination.
huffy Posted May 28, 2014 Author Posted May 28, 2014 quote:Originally posted by PhanDadAwesome!Your profile indicates you are an attorney. Never met an attorney here in the East with your mechanical/fab skills. Definitely a unique combination. id="quote">id="quote">Bill:I used to be an iron worker. I went to law school because I got tired of spending 12 hour days 100' in the air welding bridging, etc, in the ungodly GA heat. Now I just tinker a little bit now and then in my nice, cool garage.
Stan-Tn Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 Thanks for the detailed build. I would like to see details of a Sunstar lift build if anyone has those. Again nice work
GLPointon Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 Congrats Chris...Nice job for sure! Is that a Cat 0 or Cat 1 like Josh made for his? I too am awaiting the SS build (so I can copy it)
huffy Posted May 29, 2014 Author Posted May 29, 2014 Sorry to disappoint you guys, but I think I'm gonna put the SS 3 point build on hold. The HD tiller that I recently bought is the one made for the "Simplicity style" 3 point rather than the traditional 3 point, so I really don't need the traditional 3 point on the SS now.
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