Front receiver hitch

Farmall Super A, AV, 100, 130, & 140 1939 - 1973
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Lt.Mike
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2438
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:38 am
Zip Code: 07727
Tractors Owned: 1 -'58 International Cub Lo-Boy
2 - '46 International A's
2 - '52 Farmall Cubs
1 - '53 Farmall Super A
1 - ‘41 Ford 9N with a ‘49 8N Engine
1 - ‘48 (5641) Allis Chalmers G
Location: Farmingdale NJ

Front receiver hitch

Postby Lt.Mike » Sun Jun 20, 2021 12:47 pm

This something I brought up when I was mounting my A60 graderblade this past winter and we kicked around ideas on how it might be done.
I kinda left you guys hanging on this as I was bouncing between projects getting them done in order of what was needing completion most at the time.
Well we're deep into boating season now and it can be a pain pulling and returning my boat from under the carport where its stored.
This is what I've got to deal with...

It looks like more room than it is. Get the Boat halfway out and a pickup in front to pull and the trees behind, don't hit the sides of carport or the camper, or the trees :roll: ... The tractor is sooooo much better for visibility wise and the thought of being able to be able to do everything looking forward :mrgreen: Yes that would be good.
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Using the tractor is by far the easiest way to get this done. It's a shorter more maneuverable rig but backing the boat in has me fighting to look over my shoulder to see what I'm doing.
A front mounted hitch would be the ticket . ;)
So with that said the hitch project moved to the front of the cue line.
Last winter we discussed different configurations involving the lift arm but I felt that wasn't necessary and with the need to push a trailer left and right the arm would involve unwanted twisting at the pivot point so I confined my connection to the Grader blade lower frame.
I drilled one hole on the right side ( I'll show where in a later post) and that was the only modification I made to a factory part.
I used an unused hole on the left side as another attachment point.
The lower "U" shaped hanger was removed and the two bolts hold that bracket will hold the one I made to kick the plow forward, (but didn't need).
Looks like I didn't waste my time and effort on it after all and I found a use for it. :)
To that Bolts the body of the receiver hitch. I could have incorporated the bracket into the receiver frame welding it directly but something told me that might cause difficulty mounting it as the grader blade hanger position shifts ever so slightly which I noticed it can do. This added two more mounting bolts (6 total). The holes were drilled a hair larger than the bolt needed to allow forgiveness when things didn't line up perfect.
I also made the receiver tube sit tucked in for a clean appearance when not in use. The drop and forward extension is what ever I choose to plug in to suit the need at the time. I'm 4 days in on this, picking away a little here and there. A lot now depends on the speed of paint drying in this humidity.
Also I think after this project I may upgrade my welder. It would lay down really nice welds but as I went it would heat up and start getting herky jerky making blob welds :roll: then just quit. I'd have to let it cool and reset before using it again. I put a fan blowing on the box which helped a little but getting a clean weld was a challenge. :cry:
I'll post more pics when the paint is fully dry and I mount the receiver.

Might remember this part from the plow project. As for the tape, ever fab up a part and everything bolts together nice then you paint it up and the thickness of the paint is enough to cause problems? Well I don't know if it would have here but a couple layers of tape between the mating surfaces to simulate paint before weld up plays it safe. ;)
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In the process... The hole I drilled on the right side was a 1/2" higher that the left so to make it level I had to weld a tab on so I could drill that sides hole higher. You can see extra layers of tape so when its done I won't have to hammer the frame in to get it into place.
Also you ca see the lower hanger is still in place, that will be removed.
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I worked it all out in my head as I went taking in consideration the down force stress and stress pushing side to side would have.
Here is the receiver frame assembled and painted up. Better look at the bracket from the last project too.
Sorry there weren't more pics in between steps but I just get tunnel vision and go!
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All this can easily be removed in the winter so that the snowplow can be mounted.
Also, I have a second A60 setup I will mount on my '46 A which doesn't have hydraulics. The way this mounts it won't matter.
If I choose to make the Early A my yard tug it will be a simple task switching the receiver over to it.
Quote by Gary Pickeral I like
"If it can cast a shadow, it can be restored"

User avatar
Lt.Mike
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2438
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:38 am
Zip Code: 07727
Tractors Owned: 1 -'58 International Cub Lo-Boy
2 - '46 International A's
2 - '52 Farmall Cubs
1 - '53 Farmall Super A
1 - ‘41 Ford 9N with a ‘49 8N Engine
1 - ‘48 (5641) Allis Chalmers G
Location: Farmingdale NJ

Re: Front receiver hitch

Postby Lt.Mike » Sun Jun 20, 2021 4:20 pm

Ok I couldnt wait to mount the receiver on the tractor. :)

Here is the existing hole i used as a mounting point on the left side...
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...and the hole I drilled on the right.
Image

I'm glad I taped the mounting points spacing them because with it painted the two arms still fit snugly into place.
here are a bunch of pics of the finished piece.
I 'm thinking of putting a small cut vinyl "McCormick" decal on it to help it masquerade as a factory piece.
Image

You can see I tucked it in flush. The mount for the ball that slides into the receiver can be found in a variety of drops and lengths, pretty much anything you'd want.
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You'll notice I went with grade 8 bolts. The Grade 5 that I took off that held the lower hanger were badly bent!
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Here you go John, there it is next to my Ford N (which is just a lawn ornament for the time being).
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Besides parking trailers this will come in handy as a tow or tie down point. I also have receiver mount 1,500lb eletric winch I can put in the front or rear receiver to pull this or another tractor, log, etc... with.
Quote by Gary Pickeral I like
"If it can cast a shadow, it can be restored"

ajhbike
5+ Years
5+ Years
Posts: 1531
Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2017 4:06 pm
Zip Code: 06405
Tractors Owned: 1957 Cub
1951 Super C
1966 IH 504 Hi-Clear
1968 JD 3020
1949 JD B
1949 Ford 8N
1955 Ferguson TO-35
Location: Branford, CT

Re: Front receiver hitch

Postby ajhbike » Sun Jun 20, 2021 5:52 pm

The Ford brush guard with the receiver would be a beefier trailer mover

User avatar
Lt.Mike
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2438
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:38 am
Zip Code: 07727
Tractors Owned: 1 -'58 International Cub Lo-Boy
2 - '46 International A's
2 - '52 Farmall Cubs
1 - '53 Farmall Super A
1 - ‘41 Ford 9N with a ‘49 8N Engine
1 - ‘48 (5641) Allis Chalmers G
Location: Farmingdale NJ

Re: Front receiver hitch

Postby Lt.Mike » Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:07 pm

ajhbike wrote:The Ford brush guard with the receiver would be a beefier trailer mover

The option is there for the future maybe but I’m comfortable with the Farmalls operation.
Quote by Gary Pickeral I like
"If it can cast a shadow, it can be restored"

User avatar
Dh2jr
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 5:04 pm
Zip Code: 49058
Tractors Owned: 1953 farmall super A
Location: Hastings MI

Re: Front receiver hitch

Postby Dh2jr » Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:13 pm

Nice job Mike. You did a real nice job there.
53 Super A

User avatar
Lt.Mike
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2438
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:38 am
Zip Code: 07727
Tractors Owned: 1 -'58 International Cub Lo-Boy
2 - '46 International A's
2 - '52 Farmall Cubs
1 - '53 Farmall Super A
1 - ‘41 Ford 9N with a ‘49 8N Engine
1 - ‘48 (5641) Allis Chalmers G
Location: Farmingdale NJ

Re: Front receiver hitch

Postby Lt.Mike » Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:34 pm

Thank you :hattip:

One thing I double checked on is where this locates the ball I can see it comfortably from the seat. Driving the ball under the trailers coupler will be a snap.
I can’t see the Ford’s ball from its seat.
Quote by Gary Pickeral I like
"If it can cast a shadow, it can be restored"


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