Do You Recognize this WD45 3pt Hitch?

Steve,  I live about 225 miles from you near Poplar Bluff, which is in Butler County.   Wish it were a bit closer.

Between a lot of help from You, Brian G. and CTruckerNWIL, plus comments from others, and access to the right parts, I could get this hitch thing right.  Never been a mechanic.  Build wooden wide barn yard gates of my own design back when I was in HS, but mechanics, gas engines, etc, was never my forte.   You all are helping me a lot.

I really do appreciate it.


Dex

The guy who built that "brush guard" (bumper) sure had a great imagination!  LOL

Steve, CTruckerNWIL, and Brian G.,  THANK YOU, for confirming that the brush guard is going to prevent the WD45 Front End Loader from working on my tractor.   I really was afraid that that would be the case.

If it were you, would you remove the brush guard and buy the front end loader?   I could see a possible use for it, in moving huge piles of mulch to the orchard, or, moving dirt around.  I then found an AC rear scoop, that may do most of that, a little cheaper.

I had originally planned to use rails on the front end loader to move dead animals, like if a horse died, etc.   The Front End Loader will cost me $700, $500 for it, and $200 for delivery.  If you were in my situation, would you opt to buy it?

Thanks,
Dex

Steve,

Looking forward to your PM, however, if you would like to direct email, that is fine, too.

mballou@mvp.net

Dex

CTruckerNWIL,  and others on the price of the front end loader.

Wow!  That was a fantastic price! $100...!!!!!   I wonder if it is worth $700, $500, and another $200 to drag it 170 miles, one way?

You guys got any input on the price, and scarcity of this oader?   A good deal, or, would you all pass?

Thanks, a million, guys.

Dex

Thanks, CTrucker.  If I can trade the Honda Pilot for a pickup, which I really do need,  I may take you up on that at a later date if it is still around.   I was born in Keokuk, IA, and still have at least one cousin still there.

I thought it was a little high, but I was also worried about how scarce a Front End Loader for a WD45 might be.  Then, now,. I have to tackle getting that brush guard off, if I were to use it..  I may pass on that one.

Hi, Dakota Dave,

In addition to spending the $500 for this loader that I am considering, if you didn't have a pickup, would you pay the $200 to deliver it and have a total of $700 in it?

Thank you all

.....for the great comments on my 3pt hitch on my WD45.   I'd either like to spend a little to get it as near original as possible, or, put on a WD hitch that doesn't use up my Snap Coupler.

I am not knowledgeable, but I would have to question, why AC didn't make a retro hitch that could be put on earlier WD's and WD45's, and start sending them out from the factory with a 3pt hitch that didn't use up the Snap Coupler.

With a 3pt hitch that used the Snap Coupler, it would make it a b*%#@ to hook up any Snap Coupler implements that the owner had, or, bought in the future.   At least, that is just my opinion.  It seems, to me, like a major faux paux, in engineering and marketing.  God bless them.

I understand that there were patent considerations back then, that Ferguson had, but I thought that was resolved by the early 50's.


Two miles from where I live there is an AC Snap Coupler 3 bottom plow in great shape.  The guy who I bought the tractor from recently sold a Snap Coupler Disc.    I would have gone after both, if the 3pt hitch wasn't using the Snap Coupler.

Thanks...

Dex

The snap coupler hitch was considered by most users to be better than the Fergie 3 point system back in the day and for the size of equipment used back in the D series days. It is so much easier to hook up snap coupler equipment than it is 3 point. But alas it's getting harder and harder to find snap coupler equipment. Those #9 loaders are sure handy, but usually sell for between $100 and $200. $700 ought to get you one with 2 way cylinders and a pump.

Great videos  AC, that guy makes swinging that hitch look easy

Just a thought   (AC INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS)


When I was 14, I left an 800 acre farm back in the 60's.  I was the equipment grease monkey, drove the tractor some, but come hay time, my main job was to ride the twine box on our baler and tie the hundreds of missed tied  knots as the bales came down the chute.

Joined the Marine Corps right out of high school,  and did not return to the farm after Vietnam and college. 

While I missed the drug culture of the 60's and 70's, I had a something that caused short term memory problems for me in 2000.  I have a tough time following verbal and sometimes written material, especially if it is new to me.  That is, something with which I am unfamiliar.   That and being away so long, makes things that is kindergarten stuff for you, pretty complicated for me.

Have any of you who have contributed so much to this topic on the 3pt hitch, ever thought of combining your talents and posting something akin to "How To" and other informative videos here?  Yeah, I know you are on the farm, and have a lot more on your plate, but if someone, or, ones, who have a natural teaching talent could make familiarization videos to post here, or, sell $15 dollar dvd's, I am sure that people like me would buy them.  I have always reacted better to visual instruction, than verbal.

Could do one on "familiarization with the WD45".  Introduce the parts, carb, radiator gauge, all the knobs, levers, gauges, etc.   "If you pull this thing here, it will unlock the Snap Coupler, allowing the implement to be disengaged from the tractor.  The proper 3pt hitch on a WD45 will have these Snap Coupler latches that will allow, say, a plow to disengage if while using it, the Snap Coupler latch spring brakes allowing the plow tongue to go into the ground.  If it the Snap Coupler latches on the lift arm didn't release, then the plow could swing around and come up to meet you on the tractor seat.  These are your sway chains, this is the tube that spreads  the lift arms apart, this is the rock shaft,  here is the hydraulic ......., Now you have to disconnect this tube if you are using the ..........   and here is the PTO.  It's rated power is 43 horsepower.....etc.  Be sure to grease here,  at least every day, or, every other day, and check the fluid in the PTO every, oil at every use, it is over here, and check the radiator every..... especially in very hot weather... etc..."

I have trouble with retention, and in visualizing some of what has been said here.   Again, because of the 2000 problem that I had.  I am going to print off your comments that relate to the hitch and get out there and see if I can place what you have said to what I am seeing on the tractor.

Anyway, if people who know AC implements, tractors, etc. would do videos like that, I would watch them, and probably buy a few.