Tractor Upgrades: storage of 3-Point Hitch Parts

Our Tractors are extremely useful with so many implements and configurations. In our last post I discussed tractor history 101 and additional lighting.

Today's post is about our 3-point hitch parts. Our Mahindra 2536 came with a bracket on the tow tongue that supports the lift rods while the backhoe is mounted. We lost that the first week of getting this machine. I made a new one with some flat steel from an old swing set. When we use the 3-point, we put that bracket in the tool box so we don't lose it again.

Now when the backhoe is in service, the lift rods have to be secured and the hitch-lift arms must be removed. The amount of time I have spent looking for the hitch-lift arms is immense.

I often left them laying outside wherever I had removed them. In an effort to avoid this, I began placing them between the seat and the PTO lever. They would invariably fall forward and get under the brake pedal or slide off the tractor entirely.

After a bit of trial and error, I decided on making a bracket for them on the left rear fender. The bracket is about 10 inches of flat hurricane strapping That I bent into a rectangle. It is secured to the fender with the fuel tank cover mounting bolt. This is a close-up of the inside of the bracket with the bolt

There was a pre-drilled hole in front of the signal light that fit the hitch pin. Initially the hitch pin could wiggle through the hitch-lift arms. I cut a 2 1/2 inch piece of flat stock and drilled a hole through the center 1/16th smaller than the hitch pin and hammered it into place perpendicular to the hitch pin handle. Now it can rotate with vibration and not wiggle through the lift arms.

This is a photo of the underside of the fender. A Lynch pin keeps the hitch pin in place. Application and removal can be done by feel or by bending and looking at it. I initially considered cutting down the hitch pin a few inches but there is plenty of clearance between the pin and wheel. In the interests of time I chose to try it at full length and have had no issues at all. Now the lift arms are always on board and do not pose a safety issue. I have not had to search for an arm since. On my old tractor, I would have also placed the top link in this bracket, but the Mahindra has enough room to keep the top link attached while using the backhoe.

About an hour of fabrication and tinkering will save me many more hours of searching!