HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link

   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link #101  
One thing I always look for on a contact page is a mailing address. There are so many scammers on the internet, I like to know what part of the world I'm dealing with. No, it doesn't take me long to figure out Fayetteville, AR from your phone numbers. But, just a thought - give us an address to go by. Lots of legal stuff still depends on actual addresses - the lack of one is kind of an oversite.

Your device is kinda cool. Pretty simple really - obviously it takes alittle tinkering to make it 'easy' & sized right but there really is no secret to it - simple hydraulic loop with a valve.

It has almost no relation to an actual powered hydraulic top link, and that is where you went wrong in the begining - didn't read some of the middle messages. Think you confuse a lot of people when you try to compare it to a powered hyd top link.

It's just a replacement for the $30 manual screw top link we can all buy at the supply stores.

It is a lot easier to adjust the top link for hook-ups and during use. _That_ is what it is good at.

Hopefully that ease is worth $175 or so extra to enough people to make you some sales.

Trying to compare it to a hydraulic top link with hoses will _terribly_ confuse people, and you have the issues you have here in this thread. Your device has _nothing_ to do with a regular, powered, hyd operated top link.

Yours is very, very simple - it replaces a regular screw-type top link. It uses gravity to move the hyd cylinder fore or aft, and then you lock it in place. It is not at all in any way a hydraulic top link as most of us are familiar with. It is just a basic simple top link, with a needle valve for adjustment.

One of the features you list is something that would scare me off from buying it - the air cushion. I typically use pretty perfect control of the top link - field cultivating row crops 2 extra turns of the top link will mean the back shovels are sticking in the air.... I would often not like that 3/4 inch of slop in the top link, it would be a bad thing. For some operations, I understand your claims that it's a nice shock absorber. But - a lot of times, I'd not want that slop.

All in all, it's a cool idea. I can see value in it - it does something differently.

Just don't over-sell it as a hydraulic top link. It is not! It's just an easier/ faster to adjust top link than the old screw type.

--->Paul
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link
  • Thread Starter
#102  
Rambler, we would've provided the address except it wasn't that important to the average user. We are no longer selling direct to the customer but instead letting dealers work through our distribution company. We've made ourselves available to the customer for support and the like. However, I will ask to have the address put up to ease any concerns you might have.

As for the other issues you've brought up, I will have to point to previous posts to avoid retyping too much. In short though, our website lays out what HydrauLink does, how it works and what benefits it offers. Clearly, HL does offer benefits and features that neither a screwjack or a standard HTL offer. I understand your concern regarding what you called 'slop' but our patented design really delivers a quality job. Take a look at video 2 on our website. You can see a box blade at work and it also lets you see the job quality too. No adjustments are made during the job...HL does it automatically (to a small degree). I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call anytime.
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link
  • Thread Starter
#103  
"It is not at all in any way a hydraulic top link as most of us are familiar with."

Just so you know we address this with the first couple of sentences on our website. We are trying to be very clear with our customers.

"What is HydrauLink?

It might be easier to start by saying what it is not. HydrauLink is not a hydraulic ram at least not in the traditional sense."
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link
  • Thread Starter
#104  
How does HydrauLink work?
HydrauLink uses a combination of air pressure and hydraulic fluid to hold the cylinder in place. The pressure can be adjusted with a hand-adjustable valve allowing larger adjustments to be made. It's patented design causes the air to create a cushion on which the implement rides, giving it the ability to make small adjustments automatically. The design gives the added bonus of acting like a shock absorber for the implement as well.
 
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   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link
  • Thread Starter
#105  
What sort of hydraulic connections do I need to work with HydrauLink?
None. HydrauLink is completely self-contained and needs no outside hydraulic equipment to operate. It works right out of the box.
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link #106  
just curious...did the original idea for the device evolve from a typical "door closer"....they seem to work on the same principal...
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link
  • Thread Starter
#107  
just curious...did the original idea for the device evolve from a typical "door closer"....they seem to work on the same principal...

hmmmm... you got me there. I'm not familiar with the term 'door closer'. Please explain.
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link #108  
hmmmm... you got me there. I'm not familiar with the term 'door closer'. Please explain.

They're basically a hydraulic cylinder with an air cushion that dampens the action...

most "door closers" have setting for sweep and latch...when a door is opened the closer sucks in air and depending on the adjustments it uses the air to dampen the closing action...
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link #109  
I think the problem with this is the marketing. With all due respect to the Hydralink guy, the marketing is causing more problems than helping.

Statements like "let me try to explain again" (or something to that effect) are not scoring any points. Trust me, we understand what this thing is and how it works (maybe not trade secret internals, but we understand what the Hydralink is doing in concept -- which is all that matters) and what its capabilities are.

So, it boils down to this:

Hydralink can be "locked" into position -- albiet with an air cusion for minute "give"
Hydralink can be "unlocked" so that an outside force can extend or contract the ram -- Hydralink cannot extend or contract under its own power

If you have a rear remote already on your tractor, I would go with a hydralic ram.
If you don't have a rear remote already installed on your tractor, you should determine if you need a real hydraulic ram.
If you don't want to install a hydraulic ram system (including valves) but struggle with the standard top link, this thing looks like it would be great.

I think it really has some great features, but it must not be pawned off as a replacement for a hydraulic ram. It is a replacement (although a kick-*** one) for a standard top link.

Me, I have rear remotes...so if I ever feel the need, I will get a real ram.

Now, one thing I think would be a cool feature... especially for the Category II one under development. There needs to be a remote control for the valve. Those of us with bigger tractors cannot reach the top link from our seats.
 
   / HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link
  • Thread Starter
#110  
They're basically a hydraulic cylinder with an air cushion that dampens the action...

most "door closers" have setting for sweep and latch...when a door is opened the closer sucks in air and depending on the adjustments it uses the air to dampen the closing action...

Oh!! I wasn't following you at first. I can tell you that although that's an interesting thought, that's not how it happened. You've heard the saying, "Necessity is the mother of invention" and HL was no different. Using hydraulink fluid with a carefully measured amount of air, HydrauLink was developed. Unlike a door closer, HL doesn't have the bouncing or sloppy movements you might expect. Instead, the air compresses giving it a more solid feel while also allowing it to cushion the implement a bit... just enough to smooth out the ride and let the implement adjust to the contours of the ground.
 
 

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