Although on the market for over a decade, it’s in the more recent years we have seen the growing popularity of ball and spoon hitches here in Ireland. With slurry and silage being drawn longer distances, wear on traditional hitching systems has become more evident. Although the ball and spoon setup is also prone to wear, users tell us the wear is not to the same extent as the typical hook and drawbar couplings.
The most popular ball-and-spoon coupling in Irish circles is the Meath-manufactured Dromone Engineering system. Austrian-based Scharmueller also offers the concept.
If using a ball and spoon coupling system, you are permitted to have an additional 1,000kg of downward pressure can be applied.
Why are they gaining in popularity?
Tractor operators with a ball-and-spoon-type coupling are permitted to carry additional weight over those with a traditional hitching system. If towing a trailer with a traditional hook-and-ring coupling system, legally, you can only have up to or equal to 3,000kg of downward pressure on the point of connection. Meanwhile, with a ball-and-spoon coupling system, the RSA has approved that an additional 1,000kg of downward pressure can be applied. This means a total of up to or equal to 4,000kg of downward pressure can be applied to the point of connection, once the tractor’s hitch is plated to do so.
The good
Contractors will tell you that long-term, the ball and spoon will offer a much smoother ride on the road over a traditional hook-and-ring system. It removes the slap and play you get with traditional setups. Users have also said they find the system easier on PTO shafts, as there’s no play. The design offers a larger contact area between the tractor and the implement, meaning it’s suitable for pulling heavier loads.
With implements such as forage wagons, there tends to be an increased angle placed on the towing eye, leading to a more concentrated wear. The ball and spoon type system helps reduce this.
The system offers 35° of oscillation in all directions, helping offer shunt-free towing. A bold claim, but Dromone says its ball and spoon system has 90% less wear and hitch damage compared to using traditional towing rings.
The bad
The ball-and-spoon combo is also prone to wear. The 80mm ball is the industry standard. We asked Dromone what level of wear on this ball is acceptable. The company said that the 80mm-diameter ball has a very tight tolerance. Any wear greater than 1mm and you should be thinking about replacing it. The more movement in the system, the more it negates its original value.
If debris such as grit gets in between the cup and ball, it will result in increased friction, speeding up the wearing process.
Like any hitching system, regular greasing will lengthen its lifespan. The Dromone hitch is fitted with a grease nipple. If a worn hitch/spoon continues to be used, it may run the risk of parting – as seen on the continent. It can be difficult to gauge the condition of both the ball and spoon, but vital this is done properly and regularly.
Contractors will tell you that long-term, the ball and spoon will offer a much smoother ride on the road over a traditional hook and ring system, removing the slap and play you get with traditional set-ups.
What’s involved in switching?
From the tractor point of view, the ball hitch is interchangeable with an existing hook and drawbar.
There are no hitch modifications required. You can go back and forth between the original drawbar and the ball hitch the same way as changing an ordinary hook. Pull the pin out and swap and you’re back to where you started. It features automatic coupling from the cab with no need to leave the cab during coupling or uncoupling.
It’s the implement which requires the modification. Drawbars with bolt-on towing eyes are the easiest to replace. It is just a matter of unbolting the existing ring.
However, if it is a rigid welded towing eye, it will need to be cut off and the spoon welded on. The RSA clearly states that this work must be carried out or approved by the trailer manufacturer or authorised distributor.
It is also worth noting that those with implements that traditionally use a drawbar system such as a lime spreader or baler will see a reduced turning capacity. Dromone are in the final stages of testing a draw-ball system to solve this issue.
How much do they cost?
The 80mm ball hitch is the industry standard. There are over a dozen different ball units available which differ in regards to the shank (width x height) you insert into the tractor, ie 60x60, 70x80 and 90x90. These ball hitches start at €665 (£610) and range up to €785 (£720) plus VAT.
The bolt-on spoon is priced from €335 (£310) to €600 (£550) plus VAT depending on the hole centres and size required. Meanwhile, a weld-on spoon is priced at €200 (£184) plus VAT. The cost of the conversion for a weld-on spoon must also be taken into consideration.
If we compare these prices to a traditional hook for a Dromone hitch, they range from €165 (£152) to €205 (£189). Dromone claim that their research conservatively shows that Ball and Spoon wear versus the traditional hook and eye system is around 5:1 hook: B&S.
Contractor view
Tony O’Mahony, Agri and Plant, Co Cork
We caught up with Diarmuid O’Mahony, one of the four family members behind Tony O’Mahony Agri and Plant based near Bandon in Co Cork. The family outfit first made the move to ball-and-spoon couplings five years ago.
They initially made the move for the extra payload carrying capacity on low loaders and on larger silage trailers. Once they saw the benefits, they began steadily changing over the entire fleet.
Diarmuid explained: “We saw at first hand the less evident wear and increased ride comfort offered by the ball-and-spoon system. It removed the slapping and play you’d get with a hook and towing eye on the lime spreader, when tipping a trailer or when working the Fusion baler-wrapper, especially in transport on the road when you hit a bump or when transferring the bale. It’s easier on the machinery and the driver.”
Five years since first trialling the concept, the company now runs ball hitches on all 12 tractors and have spoons set up on 15 implements. However, the changeover on all implements isn’t the simplest operation, especially for those which use a drawbar. The O’Mahonys had to lengthen the drawbar on their lime spreader to compensate for the loss of turning angle.
“Overall, we’re very happy with the ball and spoon system. With a hook and eye, the wear is far more evident, especially with dump trailer work. There is wear with the ball and spoon, but it is spread out over a greater surface area. The ball and spoon is a more expensive system to run, but once it is greased regularly and the nut is kept adjusted, we feel it’s safer and more comfortable, while the additional payload capacity is very important,” said Diarmuid.
Although on the market for over a decade, it’s in the more recent years we have seen the growing popularity of ball and spoon hitches here in Ireland. With slurry and silage being drawn longer distances, wear on traditional hitching systems has become more evident. Although the ball and spoon setup is also prone to wear, users tell us the wear is not to the same extent as the typical hook and drawbar couplings.
The most popular ball-and-spoon coupling in Irish circles is the Meath-manufactured Dromone Engineering system. Austrian-based Scharmueller also offers the concept.
If using a ball and spoon coupling system, you are permitted to have an additional 1,000kg of downward pressure can be applied.
Why are they gaining in popularity?
Tractor operators with a ball-and-spoon-type coupling are permitted to carry additional weight over those with a traditional hitching system. If towing a trailer with a traditional hook-and-ring coupling system, legally, you can only have up to or equal to 3,000kg of downward pressure on the point of connection. Meanwhile, with a ball-and-spoon coupling system, the RSA has approved that an additional 1,000kg of downward pressure can be applied. This means a total of up to or equal to 4,000kg of downward pressure can be applied to the point of connection, once the tractor’s hitch is plated to do so.
The good
Contractors will tell you that long-term, the ball and spoon will offer a much smoother ride on the road over a traditional hook-and-ring system. It removes the slap and play you get with traditional setups. Users have also said they find the system easier on PTO shafts, as there’s no play. The design offers a larger contact area between the tractor and the implement, meaning it’s suitable for pulling heavier loads.
With implements such as forage wagons, there tends to be an increased angle placed on the towing eye, leading to a more concentrated wear. The ball and spoon type system helps reduce this.
The system offers 35° of oscillation in all directions, helping offer shunt-free towing. A bold claim, but Dromone says its ball and spoon system has 90% less wear and hitch damage compared to using traditional towing rings.
The bad
The ball-and-spoon combo is also prone to wear. The 80mm ball is the industry standard. We asked Dromone what level of wear on this ball is acceptable. The company said that the 80mm-diameter ball has a very tight tolerance. Any wear greater than 1mm and you should be thinking about replacing it. The more movement in the system, the more it negates its original value.
If debris such as grit gets in between the cup and ball, it will result in increased friction, speeding up the wearing process.
Like any hitching system, regular greasing will lengthen its lifespan. The Dromone hitch is fitted with a grease nipple. If a worn hitch/spoon continues to be used, it may run the risk of parting – as seen on the continent. It can be difficult to gauge the condition of both the ball and spoon, but vital this is done properly and regularly.
Contractors will tell you that long-term, the ball and spoon will offer a much smoother ride on the road over a traditional hook and ring system, removing the slap and play you get with traditional set-ups.
What’s involved in switching?
From the tractor point of view, the ball hitch is interchangeable with an existing hook and drawbar.
There are no hitch modifications required. You can go back and forth between the original drawbar and the ball hitch the same way as changing an ordinary hook. Pull the pin out and swap and you’re back to where you started. It features automatic coupling from the cab with no need to leave the cab during coupling or uncoupling.
It’s the implement which requires the modification. Drawbars with bolt-on towing eyes are the easiest to replace. It is just a matter of unbolting the existing ring.
However, if it is a rigid welded towing eye, it will need to be cut off and the spoon welded on. The RSA clearly states that this work must be carried out or approved by the trailer manufacturer or authorised distributor.
It is also worth noting that those with implements that traditionally use a drawbar system such as a lime spreader or baler will see a reduced turning capacity. Dromone are in the final stages of testing a draw-ball system to solve this issue.
How much do they cost?
The 80mm ball hitch is the industry standard. There are over a dozen different ball units available which differ in regards to the shank (width x height) you insert into the tractor, ie 60x60, 70x80 and 90x90. These ball hitches start at €665 (£610) and range up to €785 (£720) plus VAT.
The bolt-on spoon is priced from €335 (£310) to €600 (£550) plus VAT depending on the hole centres and size required. Meanwhile, a weld-on spoon is priced at €200 (£184) plus VAT. The cost of the conversion for a weld-on spoon must also be taken into consideration.
If we compare these prices to a traditional hook for a Dromone hitch, they range from €165 (£152) to €205 (£189). Dromone claim that their research conservatively shows that Ball and Spoon wear versus the traditional hook and eye system is around 5:1 hook: B&S.
Contractor view
Tony O’Mahony, Agri and Plant, Co Cork
We caught up with Diarmuid O’Mahony, one of the four family members behind Tony O’Mahony Agri and Plant based near Bandon in Co Cork. The family outfit first made the move to ball-and-spoon couplings five years ago.
They initially made the move for the extra payload carrying capacity on low loaders and on larger silage trailers. Once they saw the benefits, they began steadily changing over the entire fleet.
Diarmuid explained: “We saw at first hand the less evident wear and increased ride comfort offered by the ball-and-spoon system. It removed the slapping and play you’d get with a hook and towing eye on the lime spreader, when tipping a trailer or when working the Fusion baler-wrapper, especially in transport on the road when you hit a bump or when transferring the bale. It’s easier on the machinery and the driver.”
Five years since first trialling the concept, the company now runs ball hitches on all 12 tractors and have spoons set up on 15 implements. However, the changeover on all implements isn’t the simplest operation, especially for those which use a drawbar. The O’Mahonys had to lengthen the drawbar on their lime spreader to compensate for the loss of turning angle.
“Overall, we’re very happy with the ball and spoon system. With a hook and eye, the wear is far more evident, especially with dump trailer work. There is wear with the ball and spoon, but it is spread out over a greater surface area. The ball and spoon is a more expensive system to run, but once it is greased regularly and the nut is kept adjusted, we feel it’s safer and more comfortable, while the additional payload capacity is very important,” said Diarmuid.
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