Installed Hydraulic Side Link

[Cocre]

Completed the hydraulic side link last weekend, and I am very satisfied with the results. I purchased a clevis hydraulic cylinder from The Surplus Center (6 inches of travel), cut the ends off of it and welded on a swivel eye off of spare top link I had laying around, and then welded a homemade clevis to the rod end. I was fearful that the cylinder might contact the backhoe adapter plate at its extreme angels, but it misses by about an 1/8 of an inch (whew).

 

[dex3361]

Nice job on the cylinder mod and the top and tilt combo will spoil you. I have the TnT on my L4400 and it make it much more versitile. How wide is the Box Blade on your JD?

 

[texasjohn]

GOOD JOB...wish I had one!:drool:

 

[Cocre]

Nice job on the cylinder mod and the top and tilt combo will spoil you. I have the TnT on my L4400 and it make it much more versitile. How wide is the Box Blade on your JD?

Thanks. I have already put the tilt to good use on a drainage ditch. It just makes it so easy to contour perfectly.

The box blade is a 72". I bought it when I bought my 8N back in '82. The extra length on the JD 3320 helps with getting into the corners of stuff. It looks much wider than the tractor in the pictures, but it is really only a foot wider overall.

 

[eepete]

Looks great :thumbsup:. The sidelink I just added is 4" stroke, it was interesting to see the difference in the amount of tilt you got with 6". I've got pix at the end of a post I did, you can search eepete and toplink to see it. The hose routing is always a challenge...

Pete

 

[DanD78]

I like your set up. I have a 3320 as well and need to do the same thing. Could you let me know what valve you used and do you have a picture of how you mounted it. I have the same power beyond kit as you and am wondering why you had to use the return line on the left side. I thought I would be able to just use the loop hose through an open center valve body.

Thanks
Dan D.

 

[Cocre]

I like your set up. I have a 3320 as well and need to do the same thing. Could you let me know what valve you used and do you have a picture of how you mounted it. I have the same power beyond kit as you and am wondering why you had to use the return line on the left side. I thought I would be able to just use the loop hose through an open center valve body.

Thanks
Dan D.

Most of the valve came off of eBay. It took a few of weeks for everything to show up, but eventually it did. I bought two Prince SVW1DD1 sectional control valves with detented float, and then found a SV115 inlet section, then an SVE11 open center outlet section, and finally a 660401002 bolt kit for a two spool valve. The only parts that were not new was the bolt kit, everything else was new in their boxes. Total cost was $121.35 for the valve which included shipping. This was way over half off of what Surplus Center was asking. I got the float option because that was what I found, and I do use it on the tilt part.

I welded the mounting bracket up myself and mounted it to the ROPS. It attaches with one bolt threw an existing hole in the ROPS. It fits real snug and only start the nylock nut by hand. It actually has two bolt holes in the bracket, but that turned out to be overkill. The valve mounts to it with the valve handles down and not only turned around to point the other way, but also upside down. I did have to saddle the fulcrum pieces just a bit to get max movement with the handles. That part actually turned out super great. I did not want the valve handles in the way of the rockshaft lever, and they work perfect. I made the bracket a bit big in case I want to add another section to the valve.

Prince does not recommend using the valve outlet to supply other devices downstream; they say the outlet should dump directly to the oil reservoir. Initially I set it up just like about everyone else (outlet supplies oil to the next valve downstream), but after reading Prince's warning I decided to spend the extra $50 and buy a power beyond plug and another hose and fittings, and route a line from it to supply the 3 pt hitch. The outlet off the valve now connects to the backhoe return that dumps directly back into the reservoir. This is the proper way, but many will tell you it simply does not matter. My tractor was just worthy of me spending the extra $50 on it.

I am pleased with the performance, but hydraulics are not cheap.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Cocre, I was wondering if your side links are adjusted for equal tilt for both left and right tilt?

 

[Cocre]

No, currently at its extremes it is set for the right side to lift an inch above the left arm, then lower five inches below the left arm. I can manually adjust the left arm to be longer or a shorter (I moved Deere's easy adjustable right link over to the left side) to move my six inches of travel around so as to get that equal left/right movement if needed, and that is probably what I will do. Using all the of travel to lower the right arm six inches from parallel with the left will tilt the box blade beyond any reasonable need, so splitting the difference should be about perfect.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

No, currently at its extremes it is set for the right side to lift an inch above the left arm, then lower five inches below the left arm. I can manually adjust the left arm to be longer or a shorter (I moved Deere's easy adjustable right link over to the left side) to move my six inches of travel around so as to get that equal left/right movement if needed, and that is probably what I will do. Using all the of travel to lower the right arm six inches from parallel with the left will tilt the box blade beyond any reasonable need, so splitting the difference should be about perfect.

I was just wondering, I have found that I have more than enough tilt in both directions when the hydraulic is centered at level position. Some guys prefer to have the maximum tilt and have theirs adjusted so that they are able to get that. I have not found that I have ever needed that much of an angle. But that may very well just be my situation and conditions that I have to work with.