A system (50) controls a three point hitch (12) of an agricultural tractor (10), including automatic lower link stabilizers (16) with a rigid mode and a float mode. A controller (54) is connected to the automatic lower link stabilizers (16) and controls the selection of the rigid mode or the float mode. An external switch (58) allows an operator to raise or lower the three point hitch (12) from a position adjacent to the tractor (10). Control logic (64) stops raising the three point hitch (12), notwithstanding input from the external switch (58), when the three point hitch (12) is raised to a position (108) corresponding to a rigid mode transition threshold value (102). The control logic (64) places the automatic lower link stabilizers (16) in the rigid mode and resumes raising the three point hitch (12) only upon release and reactuation of the at least one external switch (58).
