Chatter Hyd. Top Link

[Jim Ronquest]

Good evening!

I read here often and always find some good information. Seems like a bunch of top shelf hands on here!

I have a Hyd. top link that seems to chatter quite a bit on extension with a partial load. It operates perfectly with nothing on it, however it will chatter some with the Landscape Rake, but is worse with the Box blade or the Rear Blade. Seems once the attachment is on the ground with more of a load bearing against it it is not as bad. Lately it seems to not be as bad, but still very noticeable. Also it does not seem to be affected by tractor (pump) RPM.

Y'all have any ideas? It really does not seem to hurt anything, although it sounds like it is tearing up all kinds of stuff.

Thank you for your time!

 

[jinman]

Sometimes my toplink will have a sqawk due to the dry pin through the ball (also dry) at the implement. The lower links also have dry pins rotating and can "sound off" when the toplink is extended. Is it possible this is your problem? You also might have a slightly bent hydraulic ram that is binding a bit as it extends and retracts. As long as it works, I would not worry about it.

 

[orezok]

Mine did that when I first got it, but it slowly smoothed out. After about a year it's practically unnoticable. Maybe the seals are tight or something.

 

[Jim Ronquest]

Appreciate the feed back gentleman!

It does seem to be getting a little better... I don't believe in fixing stuff that ain't broke, so I will let' er bump.

Thanks again,

Jimbo

 

[BlacknTan]

I've been a mechanic my entire adult life, and I've yet to see anything "fix itself"....

If it ain't right, someone has to make it so it is right! If that someone has to be myself or the manufacturer or distributor.

 

[jinman]

If it ain't right, someone has to make it so it is right!

All those years as a mechanic and you never saw something be too tight until it was used enough to loosen up? Sometimes, tight is right. It'll loosen up with age and use.

 

[BlacknTan]

All those years as a mechanic and you never saw something be too tight until it was used enough to loosen up? Sometimes, tight is right. It'll loosen up with age and use.

Honestly, if it was too tight, it wasn't right until we made it fit properly. We never depended on the end user causing enough wear to make the fit proper...

That said... different opinions is what makes the world go 'round...

(For some reason, I've never had access to smilies on this board, or I would have added one)

 

[jinman]

That said... different opinions is what makes the world go 'round...

(For some reason, I've never had access to smilies on this board, or I would have added one)

You bet, Bill! I'd be the first to admit that I'm assuming a lot. That's the nature of posts on TBN. You have to use your imagination. What I do know is that the poster said his toplink was working and changed with different implements. That sounds like a dry pin squawking to me. Mine will really howl because they are dry. I will not lube the balls because that would just attract more dirt. That seems to be the standard with most tractor users. 3PH pins are just not made to the tolerance and quality a tool and die maker like yourself is used to. If the toplink works smoothly and quietly without a load, then the sound may not be it at all. I just can't tell, and your comments are just as valid as mine. Good natured disagreement is healthy.

 

[BlacknTan]

You bet, Bill! I'd be the first to admit that I'm assuming a lot. That's the nature of posts on TBN. You have to use your imagination. What I do know is that the poster said his toplink was working and changed with different implements. That sounds like a dry pin squawking to me. Mine will really howl because they are dry. I will not lube the balls because that would just attract more dirt. That seems to be the standard with most tractor users. 3PH pins are just not made to the tolerance and quality a tool and die maker like yourself is used to. If the toplink works smoothly and quietly without a load, then the sound may not be it at all. I just can't tell, and your comments are just as valid as mine. Good natured disagreement is healthy.

Yup!

Good natured give and take is the only kind I'll engage in.. I'm very inexperienced in the tractor world, so mostly I just read and try to learn sumthin'... But, spending 40+ years in machine shops is tough to kill... Old habits die hard, and sometimes I have to realize that not everything in life is from a precision world. Sometimes a big hammer is a good tool! LOL

I guess it shows that I've still got lots to learn... but I'm enjoyin' the ride!

 

[radman1]

Good evening!

I read here often and always find some good information. Seems like a bunch of top shelf hands on here!

I have a Hyd. top link that seems to chatter quite a bit on extension with a partial load. It operates perfectly with nothing on it, however it will chatter some with the Landscape Rake, but is worse with the Box blade or the Rear Blade. Seems once the attachment is on the ground with more of a load bearing against it it is not as bad. Lately it seems to not be as bad, but still very noticeable. Also it does not seem to be affected by tractor (pump) RPM.

Y'all have any ideas? It really does not seem to hurt anything, although it sounds like it is tearing up all kinds of stuff.

Thank you for your time!

Does the toplink have a check valve? They will sometimes chatter when the load is extending the cylinder faster than the check valve can handle it. It would be worse with the box blade and rear blade because they are heavier than the landscape rake. The negative pull on the cylinder causes the check valve to close, the hydraulics catch up with pressure and opens the valve and the cycle repeats. It recycles quickly making the chatter. I added a check valve to my toolcat curl cylinder and the chatter was awful. Had to remove it.