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Fast hitches on big frame tractors


1566Hog

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I am curious if anyone has information, or an opinion on how common it is (or uncommon) to have a fast hitch on an ‘06, ‘26, and ‘56 series tractors. I am also assuming, only because I’ve never seen one, that a fast hitch wasn’t an option on the ‘66 and later series tractors.  

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16 minutes ago, Gearclash said:

Fast hitch was certainly an option on the 66s.  The 766 in my signature has a factory fast hitch.  So does my 856.  The 1066 we had was 3 point.

Really?  I’m glad I asked the question then!  I have yet to run across a 66 with a fast hitch. Now I really want to be on the hunt to see one!  
The farm I worked on when I was younger had all fast hitch, except for the 1256. It only was used to pull a 3pt. chisel. 200, 504, 706, 856, 1026 all had fast hitch. 
Thanks for the reply about your 766. 

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I'm NOT saying that fast hitch wasn't an option on the 66 series.  But I have also heard stories of people trading in an 06 or 56 series for a new 66 series and the dealer swapped out the 3 pt. on the new tractor with the fast hitch from the trade in.  This way the person could use their old implements with the new tractor.  If this happened it could seem like it came from the factory on the new tractor when it really didn't.

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  The IH dealer in Geneva, NY had a 766 with FH that he had for his farm.  It sold at a consignment sale several years back for 6,000 dollars.  I wish that I had the money to have bought it as it was well cared for.  

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I remember a thread years ago where we talked about this. I’m wanting to think that they stopped offering the FH equipment around 74’ or so maybe?  Someone talked in that thread about a new 966 with FH but I can’t recall all the details.  
 

Tractors were starting to get larger than the FH equipment horsepower wise and 3pt had become more of an industry standard by this time.  Newer machines were retrofitted as mentioned here a few times and could be switched if desired. 

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We had an early 966 (can't remember the SN now, but it was in the first couple thousand of production)  which had Fast Hitch.   Also had deluxe cab with AC, IH radio, axle mount duals from factory, etc.   I've seen a handful of other 66s with Fast Hitch but don't think any of them were a high-end option build like that one.  

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46 minutes ago, clay neubauer said:

We had an early 966 (can't remember the SN now, but it was in the first couple thousand of production)  which had Fast Hitch.   Also had deluxe cab with AC, IH radio, axle mount duals from factory, etc.   I've seen a handful of other 66s with Fast Hitch but don't think any of them were a high-end option build like that one.  

I had a 966 with a fast hitch too. Had the white diamond cab and an M&W turbo setup on it. I bought it from the original owner. I believe it was a 1972 model. 

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51 minutes ago, clay neubauer said:

We had an early 966 (can't remember the SN now, but it was in the first couple thousand of production)  which had Fast Hitch.   Also had deluxe cab with AC, IH radio, axle mount duals from factory, etc.   I've seen a handful of other 66s with Fast Hitch but don't think any of them were a high-end option build like that one.  

It also had tilt steering but only had one remote valve.

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17 hours ago, 1566Hog said:

504

Neighbor has a 504 row crop diesel with wide front with a fast hitch but I think 404 and 504’s only came as 3pt from factory.

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2 hours ago, IHhogfarmer said:

Neighbor has a 504 row crop diesel with wide front with a fast hitch but I think 404 and 504’s only came as 3pt from factory.

Fast hitch and 3 point were both an option.  My Grandpa had an International 504 with fast hitch that I spend quite a bit of time on.

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6 hours ago, IH Forever said:

Fast hitch and 3 point were both an option.  My Grandpa had an International 504 with fast hitch that I spend quite a bit of time on.

Thank you for the correction 

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On 3/27/2023 at 9:34 AM, Sledgehammer said:

I remember a thread years ago where we talked about this. I’m wanting to think that they stopped offering the FH equipment around 74’ or so maybe?  Someone talked in that thread about a new 966 with FH but I can’t recall all the details.  
 

Tractors were starting to get larger than the FH equipment horsepower wise and 3pt had become more of an industry standard by this time.  Newer machines were retrofitted as mentioned here a few times and could be switched if desired. 

Yes IH discontinued the fast hitch in late 1973. Our local dealer at the time kept ordering them though (or trying too) but IH only was making the 3 point by then. The1066 was never offered with a FH thought. 
I just swapping the Lady from FH too a 3 point after I broke it lifting a truck (don’t ask long story. Lol)

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On 3/26/2023 at 10:07 PM, Dirt_Floor_Poor said:

One of our landlords had a 1066 Hydro with a fast hitch. 

This would be an awesome combination..... 

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As far as I can tell digging around in the “library” 2pt would have been available for order from Rock Island on the 766 and 966, at least early in 66 series production.  I have seen 2 pt on both models it is not rare but definitely uncommon.  There is no indication of 2pt on the cat 3 tractors at any point in any series.  

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We have a 966 with one and have a friend with one as well. The fast hitch was available special order on a 986 yet. One of my old dealers that is no more ordered one for an older customer of theirs. I saw it in the shop there years later and asked about it. They said they special ordered it for him. This was Jewell Implement, Jewell Iowa. At the time the 986 had 4xx hours on it and looked like brand new. I was coveting it and even tried to buy it.

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That is interesting that some of the 66’s had fast hitches. In my area of SE PA, the farm I worked on when I was younger was the only farm that had fast hitches on the big tractors (06’s and 56’s). Most of my other friends, some being JD fans, would always harass me about fast hitches. All of the attachments we used were fast hitch, and it was sure nice to have a fast hitch drawbar when hooking/unhooking trailing implements. Throw a block under the tongue, lower the hitch, and pull the pin. Didn’t have to mess with any jacks. I figured fast hitches on bigger tractors were kind of rare since none of the neighbors had them and of all the auctions I went to, I’ve never seen them, besides being on the 4 cylinder gas tractors like the 300, 350, 400, 450 and 560’s. That size seems to be common for fast hitches. One of the reasons I wanted the 1026 Hydro I just bought, was because it has a factory fast hitch. 

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my 706 has fast hitch, love it - i have seen 4 bottom fast hitch plows and heard they made bigger ones so must ahve been bigger tractors with fast hitch for sure.

i would imagine the 806 had them also our neighbors 806 had 3 point tho - seen one on an 856 not sure if it was factory never asked 

 

 

 

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