The IH Fast-Hitch Story: Implement Show-Stoppers Tell 2-Point Hitch History
Fast-Hitch implements draw crowds at farm shows even though the system was short lived
Leslie C. McManus
July 2010
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Rick Wisnefske's 1953 Farmall Super C with a C-72 blade that can be mounted on front or as a belly attachment. Made for the Model C, it can be used on a Super C with a Fast-Hitch converter. "It's a little drawbar that hooks into the Fast-Hitch," Rick says, "but it's extremely hard to find." Another unique feature on this Super C: country singer Craig Morgan's autograph on the tractor's hood, a memento of the 2009 Red Power Round Up where Morgan performed in concert.
Leslie C. McManus
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Looking for a show display that’s a guaranteed draw?
Take an insider’s tip from two Wisconsin collectors: implements.
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When Mark Peters, Menasha, and Rick Wisnefske, Larsen, set up their display of about two dozen International Harvester Fast-Hitch implements last summer, they practically had to hand out numbers to the crowd. “I got hoarse from talking so much,” Mark says. “I’ve been told I’m very long-winded, but I ran out of wind. People were lined up to ask questions; they were very interested, very curious. Some of them had never seen stuff like this before.”
The irony of the situation is that implements don’t generate much interest – until people see them. “We went to a Red Power Round Up in Pennsylvania about five years ago,” Rick recalls, “and Fast-Hitch was the feature – and they didn’t have a quarter of our display.”
In the old iron category, a vintage implement is an easy keeper. “Implements don’t take up a lot of space, you never have to change the oil and you never have to winterize them,” Mark says. “They’re very low maintenance.”
The 2-point system
International Harvester’s Fast-Hitch, a late challenge to Ford’s 3-point hitch launched in 1926, provided an easy means of attaching and detaching rear-mounted implements. Coupling, uncoupling, depth control and leveling of implements could all be done from the tractor seat.
In 1953, the Farmall Super C was the first International tractor outfitted with the 2-point Fast-Hitch. In 1955, Fast-Hitch was added to the 300 and 400 tractors. The small prong (about 2-1/2 inches) Fast-Hitch was used on the Super C, 200 and 230. Hi-Clear versions of Farmall’s 100, 130 and 140 tractors also used the small 2-point prong. Large prongs (3 inches, measured at the stop welded under the prong) were used on the 240, 300 and above. In 1958, production of the small-prong hitch was discontinued, though some small-prong implements remained in production.
Both Mark and Rick grew up with International equipment. “Dad always bragged up Fast-Hitch,” Mark recalls. “‘The Fast-Hitch is so nice,’ he’d say. ‘You just back in.’ He hated 3-point. When he bought a new 424 International, he had to get the 3-point hitch and he never liked that.”
Set-up of the display demonstrated the system’s efficiency. “Once we got the implements off the trailers, we got this all laid out in 20 minutes, with no pinched fingers,” Mark says. “With 3-point, it would have taken over an hour. That’s the beauty of the system. I don’t know why it didn’t catch on. Maybe it just started too late.”
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