A locking mechanism for a link assembly of a work vehicle hitch has a locking plate mounted to an upper portion of the link assembly. A collar is positioned over the sleeve and is configured to slide relative a portion of the sleeve. The collar meshes with the sleeve so as to prevent rotational movement of the upper portion of the sleeve relative the collar when the collar is adjacent the upper portion, but the sleeve can rotate relative the collar when the collar is adjacent a middle portion of the sleeve. The locking mechanism has a handle mounted on the collar that is pivotable between a locked position where the handle is generally parallel with the sleeve in which the collar is prevented from sliding relative the sleeve and a released position generally perpendicular to the sleeve in which the collar is able to slide relative the sleeve.
