3 point and quick coupler's

Count from the top of the Princess page to the fifth row.

The 1/4" couplers shown there will work but if you want to go to the 3/8" ones, there isn't much difference in price.


You will need three sets of male/female to do what you want to do. You should also invest in the rubber covers to go on each tractor so that dirt is kept out. While all of this sounds rather simple, I don't see it that way. The couplers themselves come with pipe thread fittings and you will have to adapt those to your hoses and fittings. That fact will add considerable cost to this project.

Example: You start with the first tractor by removing the one hose that goes between top of the lift cylinder and the Tee fitting on the Lift valve. You will need an adaptor to go onto the Tee fitting that has Female Iron Pipe on one side to screw into the quick coupler and JIC on the other side that will spin onto JIC type Tee fitting. You will also need a second adaptor that has Male Iron Pipe on one side to screw into the mating quick coupler and JIC on the other side so that the OEM hose will connect to it. You will have to repeat that process for every quick coupler.

Here's the problem as I see it. The JIC fittings used for the hydraulic lines is a bit of an oddball size. I suggest that you take one hose from your three point and one Tee fitting with you when you go visit the Dixie Road Princess Auto store and show them to the resident hydraulics expert. Tell him or her what you are trying to do and they will tell you if Princess has the adaptor fittings available. Then ask what the prices are for those six adaptors. I can see this project costing you upwards of $200.00 in couplers and fittings before the day is over. And that's IF those adapters are even available.


If they are not to be had, then it gets even more expensive because you will have to get Princess to make all new hoses for you. The alternative method would be to make a bracket that went onto the back of each tractor. The bracket would be drilled to accept what are called "bulkhead fittings". These are hydraulic fittings that fit through the holes on the bracket but have a NUT on them that will hold them firmly in place. You then need two new hoses to connect the back side of the bulkhead fittings to the JIC Tee fittings on the Lift Valve. The couplers will screw onto the opposite side of the bulkhead fittings. The three point cylinder will need two new hoses that will accept the pipe thread quick coupler halves on one end and the fittings on the top/bottom of the cylinder on the other end.

That method calls for six new hoses, four bulkhead fittings, two custom made mounting brackets, three pairs of quick couplers, rubber covers for the couplers and some nuts and bolts to secure the brackets. The only way to figure this out is to visit the Princess store in person with the parts in hand.

One way to go with the bulkhead fittings like Tom suggested is to get them off one of the older JD hydro garden tractors. They're 1/4 npt so the original hose will fit them and you'd just need new hoses from your cylinder that would have the male quick attach fittings. If I was going to do it I'd put studs at the lower mounts so you didn't have to hold it up trying to start a bolt.
The early JD 300 series three point hitch is a self contained setup with quick attach snap fast pins something like a mule drive. They had hydro ports at the rear as an option that were necessary for the 3pt.
It's basically what I intend to do to add a grapple on the front of the loader. Or you could add hydraulic angle to a blade up front with a splitter valve.