Easiest Hitching Tractor Drawbar We've Ever Seen

1984 - Volume #8, Issue #5, Page #35

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"It's like being able to move the tractor; only you move the drawbar instead," explains Minnesota farmer Harold Fratzke, of Cottonwood, inventor of the easiest hitching tractor drawbar we've ever seen.
Fratzke removed the original curved drawbar on his Deere 4840 tractor and replaced it with a straight drawbar and hydraulic cylinder which moves the drawbar in or out for easier, safer hookup.
This in or out movement (up to 6 in.), coupled with 12 inches of swing to either side, makes it easy for one person ù in only one trip out of the cab ù to walk behind the tractor and, in a matter of seconds, safely hook up most any implement, Fratzke points out.
"In hooking up to an implement, the operator ù standing behind the tractor ù deliberately backs up anywhere from 1 to 5 in. too far. By activating a hydraulic lever, he moves the drawbar in or out, as needed, to align it with the implement hitch. He then swings the drawbar right or left to align the holes and drops in the hitch pin.
With the hitch pin installed, the operator then hits the hydraulic lever to extend the drawbar full length (5 in.) to eliminate any pull on the hydraulic cylinder.
Fratzke's new Hydraulic Swivel Hitch incorporates three key features which can be purchased as one complete package. Or, you can buy the features separately for incorporation into your existing tractor drawbar.
Automatic Drawbar Swing Lock ù It allows you to freely swing the drawbar right or left as needed for easy hookup. When you pull forward, the device automatically locks the drawbar in place.
Easy On-Off Double Clevis ù Adaptable to most any drawbar that uses a double clevis, it eliminates the time-consuming chore of having to bother with bolts every time you want to reposition the clevis. You simply pull two pins to slip the clevis off, reposition the clevis as desired, then secure it by dropping the pins back into place.
Cylinder-Operated Drawbar ù It involves having your existing curved or straight drawbar removed and reworked for in-and-out operation with a 3¢ by 8 in. hydraulic cylinder.
The Easy On-Off Double Clevis is already in production and available commercially to fit most any tractor presently equipped with a bolt-on double clevis. The Swing Lock is in production and available for most Deere and International tractors from 1961 and newer, plus other makes.
Fratzke is making arrangements to also have his cylinder-operated drawbar manufactured commercially. Meanwhile, he'd welcome inquiries from farmers and ranchers interested in having one custom built.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harold Fratzke, 234 Shoreview Drive, Cottonwood, Minn. 56229 (ph 507 423-6341).

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Easiest Hitching Tractor Drawbar We've Ever Seen HITCHES Hitches 8-5-35 "It's like being able to move the tractor; only you move the drawbar instead," explains Minnesota farmer Harold Fratzke, of Cottonwood, inventor of the easiest hitching tractor drawbar we've ever seen. Fratzke removed the original curved drawbar on his Deere 4840 tractor and replaced it with a straight drawbar and hydraulic cylinder which moves the drawbar in or out for easier, safer hookup. This in or out movement (up to 6 in.), coupled with 12 inches of swing to either side, makes it easy for one person ù in only one trip out of the cab ù to walk behind the tractor and, in a matter of seconds, safely hook up most any implement, Fratzke points out. "In hooking up to an implement, the operator ù standing behind the tractor ù deliberately backs up anywhere from 1 to 5 in. too far. By activating a hydraulic lever, he moves the drawbar in or out, as needed, to align it with the implement hitch. He then swings the drawbar right or left to align the holes and drops in the hitch pin. With the hitch pin installed, the operator then hits the hydraulic lever to extend the drawbar full length (5 in.) to eliminate any pull on the hydraulic cylinder. Fratzke's new Hydraulic Swivel Hitch incorporates three key features which can be purchased as one complete package. Or, you can buy the features separately for incorporation into your existing tractor drawbar. Automatic Drawbar Swing Lock ù It allows you to freely swing the drawbar right or left as needed for easy hookup. When you pull forward, the device automatically locks the drawbar in place. Easy On-Off Double Clevis ù Adaptable to most any drawbar that uses a double clevis, it eliminates the time-consuming chore of having to bother with bolts every time you want to reposition the clevis. You simply pull two pins to slip the clevis off, reposition the clevis as desired, then secure it by dropping the pins back into place. Cylinder-Operated Drawbar ù It involves having your existing curved or straight drawbar removed and reworked for in-and-out operation with a 3¢ by 8 in. hydraulic cylinder. The Easy On-Off Double Clevis is already in production and available commercially to fit most any tractor presently equipped with a bolt-on double clevis. The Swing Lock is in production and available for most Deere and International tractors from 1961 and newer, plus other makes. Fratzke is making arrangements to also have his cylinder-operated drawbar manufactured commercially. Meanwhile, he'd welcome inquiries from farmers and ranchers interested in having one custom built. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harold Fratzke, 234 Shoreview Drive, Cottonwood, Minn. 56229 (ph 507 423-6341).

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