Guide · Lawn-tractor hitches and hitch pins
Sleeve hitch vs tow hitch
A tow hitch pulls a cart or sweeper on a pin; a sleeve hitch carries ground-engaging tools. Which tractors Husqvarna and Troy-Bilt list their sleeve hitches for.
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Picks that fit
- Brinly MHPK‑58BH magnetic hitch pin for sleeve-hitch attachments, 5/8 inCheck price on Amazon
Short answer
A tow hitch pulls a cart or sweeper through a hitch pin. A sleeve hitch carries ground-engaging attachments: Husqvarna says its sleeve hitch accepts a plow, cultivator or box scraper.[1] Sleeve hitches are listed for specific garden tractors. Troy-Bilt's 19B30019OEM, for one, is for Cub Cadet XT2 Enduro garden tractors from 2015 on and is not compatible with lawn tractors.[2]
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Brinly MHPK‑58BH magnetic hitch pin for sleeve-hitch attachments, 5/8 inCheck price on Amazon
Two kinds of hitch
| Tow hitch | Sleeve hitch | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Pulls a towed implement on a hitch pin | Holds a ground-engaging tool behind the tractor |
| Typical attachments | Carts, sweepers | Plow, cultivator, box scraper[1] |
| Listed for | The machine's own hitch point | Specific garden tractors, by the maker |
A tow hitch is a pulling point. A sleeve hitch is an implement mount that the tool slides into and pins to. They are different parts for different jobs, and one does not stand in for the other.
Which tractors the makers list
- Husqvarna 585 60 79-01. Husqvarna lists its tractor sleeve hitch for garden tractors with 22 and 23-inch tires, including the TS 348D, TS 348XD, TS 354X and TS 354XD.[1] The page gives no towing or load rating.
- Troy-Bilt 19B30019OEM. Troy-Bilt says it fits XT2 Enduro Series models from 2015 on, is for use with Cub Cadet XT2 garden tractors only, and is not compatible with lawn tractors.[2] It replaces 19A30019OEM.
A garden tractor and a lawn tractor can share a series name, so check your exact model. Troy-Bilt's note shows why: it lists XT2 garden tractors only, so an XT1 is not on its list. See the Cub Cadet XT1 and XT2 Enduro page.
Picks that fit1 product
Choose 585 60 79-01 only for a Husqvarna garden tractor with 22 or 23-inch tires, such as the TS 348D, TS 348XD, TS 354X or TS 354XD that Husqvarna names.
Husqvarna 585 60 79‑01 sleeve hitch for garden tractors
Picks that fit1 product
Choose the 5/8 in MHPK-58BH only if your sleeve hitch and implement manuals call for a 5/8 in pin; this site has not verified Brinly's pin against any hitch.
Brinly MHPK‑58BH magnetic hitch pin for sleeve-hitch attachments, 5/8 in
On Amazon, check that "Ships from / Sold by" shows Amazon.com or the brand.
What a sleeve hitch kit holds
Agri-Fab's 45-03022 sleeve hitch carton includes the hitch frame, two pairs of left and right mounting brackets for different tractor frames, pivot brackets, a lifting link plate, a lift assembly, a lift lever assembly and a hitch pin.[3] The manual gives alternate bracket sets but no list of approved tractors.[3] If neither bracket set matches your frame, the kit is not for your tractor. Never drill, cut or weld a tractor frame to mount a hitch.
Before you use one
Agri-Fab's 45-03022 manual tells owners to read it and the vehicle and implement owner's manuals before using the hitch, and warns that vehicle braking and stability may be affected.[3] That manual states no towing capacity.[3] Your tractor's manual is where any limit comes from; the towing limits guide explains why.
A tow coupling, for contrast
Agri-Fab's 45-0326 46-inch lawn sweeper connects to a tractor's tow hitch with a hitch pin, two 3/4-inch spacers and a 1/8-inch hair cotter pin, with bracket setups for hitches 8 to 10 or 10 to 13 inches above the ground.[4] That is a typical towed coupling: a pin through a plate, retained by a clip. We use that manual only as a hardware example, not as a product pick.
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Questions
What is the difference between a sleeve hitch and a tow hitch?
A tow hitch pulls a cart or sweeper through a hitch pin. A sleeve hitch is an implement mount: Husqvarna says its sleeve hitch accepts ground-engaging attachments such as a plow, cultivator or box scraper.[1]
Will a sleeve hitch fit my lawn tractor?
Only if the maker lists it for your tractor. Troy-Bilt's 19B30019OEM is for Cub Cadet XT2 Enduro garden tractors from 2015 on and is not compatible with lawn tractors; Husqvarna lists its 585 60 79-01 for garden tractors with 22 and 23-inch tires.[2][1]
What attachments use a sleeve hitch?
Ground-engaging tools. Husqvarna names a plow, a cultivator and a box scraper.[1]
Do I need to drill my tractor's frame?
No. Use a hitch kit whose brackets the maker lists for your tractor. Agri-Fab's 45-03022 carton, for example, includes two pairs of mounting brackets for different tractor frames.[3]