Top-n-tilt Questions

[N80]

I've seen references to Top-n-Tilts but really don't know what it is. I'm assuming its a hydraulic ram in place of your top link. Is that all it is? If so, I'm wondering if I can make one myslef. I already have a rear remote. Can I just install a ram in the top link position and hook it to the rear remote?

I understand a Top-n-tilt is useful when operating a box blade. What else? Also, can use use it with a 3 pt hitch type rotary mower?

 

[beenthere]

Top-n-tilt
also includes the hyd cyl in place of the lift link on the 3pt lift arm that gives the tilt control.

A search or two on the subject (TNT or Top-n-tilt) will give you lots of interesting and valuable informative reading.

Enjoy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[skipmarcy]

I too got very interested in the hydraulic toplink a few months back and searched for weeks to buy one - couldn't find one with the right retracted length for my tractor. I wanted a retracted length of around 16" or so and bought the parts and built my own. I got a 2 1/2" x 8" cylinder from Surplus Center for $59.95 and cut the ends off. I got 2 weld-on Cat.1 swivel eyes for about $15 from Tractor Supply and welded them on. I got a Prince double-pilot check valve and 2, 12" hoses from Surplus Center and I had a great hydraulic toplink. That Prince check valve was a little pricey - $74, maybe you could find something a little cheaper. It has been fantastic with the boxblade but I've also used it with the rotary cutter - I had to do some extremely heavy cutting a couple weeks ago and didn't want to have to make 2 passes at it so I tilted the rear of my cutter up so it could throw the grass out the back better and not choke the cutter - worked great!! Then when I got to thinner areas I could lower it back down in a second right from the seat and keep right on cutting. Also, when loading my tractor onto my 20' trailer with the cutter mounted, I have to back it onto the trailer and having that hydraulic toplink lets me raise the rear of the deck way up there so it clears the end of the trailer going up. Even when I shortened my old toplink as far as I could, the cutter would still hit the end of the trailer if the ground wasn't perfectly level. Also great for sharpening the blades. I'm sure it will come in handy for many other things in the future.

 

[MadReferee]

Your Prince double pilot operated check valve may not give you the desired effect. The valve's cracking pressure is too low. We have discussed this in detail a few years ago. Take a look HERE for the discussion. Read the entire post. I have yet to find a valve that meets the correct specification here in the USA.

 

[skipmarcy]

Mad, read the thread, "clear as mud" !! I've been using the Prince valve now over 2 months, mostly with the boxblade- probably 30 hours and maybe 20 hours on the rotary too and haven't had any leak-down problems yet. Not to say I won't in the future, my remote valve was never used before this so it probably doesn't have much if any leakage thru it yet. Operating my FEL, the shock load from that hasn't caused any leakdown either and my remote valve is fed from the power beyond off the FEL joystick valve. I do have leakage in the joystick - hundreds of hours of use with it, the load checks bleed-off quicker every year and my float won't stay engaged in detent half the time anymore. I hope to find just a weak detent spring there someday when I can find time to take it apart. Just hope that check valve lasts a good while before giving me problems - hard to believe it cost that much more than the cylinder did!!

 

[gabby]

I added a tilt cylinder on my 4520 by connecting it directly to the remote valve. I replaced the vertical link to the lift arm with a 3" by 8" cylinder with modified ends. It works fine. Could do the same for a hydraulic top link but tilt is what I needed.

What's a check valve and what does it do? I'm running it without one.
gabby

 

[skipmarcy]

From what I've read and what common sense dictates, the piloted check valve is just an additional valve in the system to keep the pressure from leaking off a cylinder from a leaky control valve (your remote valve that operates the cylinder) so the cylinder will stay where you set it without leaking down and moving. To release this check valve requires pressure from the control valve(when you move your remote valve to change cylinder position) and they call this "cracking pressure" - the amount of pressure required to release the checks and let the fluid go to the cylinder to move it. I don't even know what the cracking pressure of my Prince valve is, seems to me with open center valving on my tractor, it would have to be one heck of a leaky control valve to apply enough pressure to crack the piloted check valve, but then again I'm definitely not a hydraulic whiz. Maybe your control valve on your system has extremely good load checks and you don't have a leak down problem.

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What's a check valve and what does it do? I'm running it without one. )</font>

In a nutshell it is a small valve that will not let fluid pass until a certain pressure has been achieved. For a double acting cylinder you need a valve on each end of the cylinder, hence the "double pilot".

Valves of this type are typically seen on quality top links and side links and are used to prevent the cylinder from leaking down. Some cylinders will leak down more than others and prior usage usually does not have a bearing on the leakdown. The check valves prevent any leakdown.

Ask anyone who has the double pilot operated check valves on their TNT cylinders and every single one of them will tell you it (the check valve) is the only way to go.

Double pilot operated check valves have been discussed thoroughly several times in the past few years here on TBN. Do yourself a favor and do a search and settle into a nice long reading experience. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[HayDR]

Implement end CAT 1 & 2, Tractor end CAT 1 with double piloted check valve.
19-27.5" - $185
We are filling orders now.
Thanks for your patience.
Mark Carter