Toplink Old Cat1 Hitch with no toplink?

dcwatson84 · Jan 6, 2011

Hi,

New to the site, but seems like a great place for advice of this nature...

I recently bought a ~1954 Allis Chalmers model B. Im very happy with it but have a question about the 3pt hitch. The lift arms are Cat1 (which seems completely appropriate for this size tractor). However, the top link bracket (What I think is the top link bracket) is way too small for a cat1 top link ball. i.e the bracket walls are too close together. Also, this bracket is rather low compared to the other top links Ive seen. Its below the PTO shaft.

You can see the bracket in the picture below (there's a 1/2in pin through it in the pic):
http://picasaweb.google.com/dcwatson84/Tractor#5559136054470653298

You can see sway chains in the pic, but theyre attached to separate brackets. Is this bracket for something else? Trailer hitch? extra sway chains? And if so, is it reasonable to assume that I simply dont have a top link bracket? Maybe the previous owner simply used the lift arms with no top link? In that case Ill definitely order one and install it myself.

Edit: I'll post a clearer picture sometime tonight after I get home.

jlsmith · Jan 6, 2011

I would do away with the chains and turn the bracket up to the top and try the third arm like that. You could always build a bracket for the chains later if that worked.

dcwatson84 · Jan 6, 2011

Im not sure what you mean by "turn the bracket". Its basically 2 pieces of steel welded right there in place, about 1' apart, with a hole for a pin to go through each piece.

(The chains actually attach to a different hole, it just looks confusing in the picture so I wanted to specify that they arent attached to the bracket.)

However, even if I could move the bracket, the main issue still stands - that the bracket isnt wide enough for a Cat-1 top link ball joint to fit into it, which is what made me wonder if its even a top link bracket or some other sort of mounting bracket.

Gil Case · Jan 6, 2011

I am pretty sure that is the draw bar you are looking at and there was no top link as we think of it today.
Check out TractorData.com Allis Chalmers B tractor information
This tractor was made to replace horse drawn implements.

dcwatson84 · Jan 6, 2011

I think your def right that there was no concept of a top link back when it was manufactured, so I had assumed the 3pt hitch parts were added later. As for it being the draw bar, im not familiar with all types of draw bars, but this looks more like a hitch on the back of a lawn mower or truck, and Ive never personally seen any drawbar assemblies that resemble it, but I guess its possible.

The more I look at it the more I realize how confusing that picture is. There's too much other stuff in the picture so its hard to tell what im referring to. Ill definitely take a clearer picture of the hitch when I get home and post it here.

gwdixon · Jan 6, 2011

I had an old AC WD45 with the same situation - except nothing on the back except two short arms that moved.

The hydraulic cylinder on yours looks like it was put on later.

But to the point, I was able to buy the whole 3 PH in a kit from Montgomery Wards. There may be some place to get what you need but it will take some research.

Try Messick's to start with and see if they can give you a direction.

A top link should not be considered for fitting to that low bracket. It is almost on the same plane as the lift arms so would cause quite a bind as well as having to be much, much longer that what is normally sold.

dcwatson84 · Jan 6, 2011

That sounds pretty reasonable. The existing parts of the hitch work fine, so Ill probably see if I can get some sort of top link bracket that mounts elsewhere on the frame or possibly on the rotating steel bar that the leveling arms attach to. Ive seen images of 3pt hitches on the web that use that sort of configuration. Thanks for the tips!

dcwatson84 · Jan 6, 2011

So here's a better picture of the setup:

Picasa Web Albums - Daniel Watson - tractor

You can see the lift arms hanging down to the ground because Ive removed the leveling arms, which normally attach to arms on that rotating axle directly behind/under the seat.

Right below the PTO shaft you can see the bracket ive been talking about. After taking a second look it is definitely too low to use as a top link bracket, and also not far enough back.

My biggest question now is - how do get a top link bracket somewhere on there without replacing the whole hitch setup, which I dont want to do. My current inclination is to find some sort of bracket to fit around the rotating life axle thing? Which I think is what this does:

ALLIS CHALMERS WD WD45 TOP LINK BRACKET 644 - eBay (item 330495380287 end time Jan-10-11 06:07:16 PST)

However, that's specifically for a AC Model WD, so Im not sure if it would fit around that part on my tractor.

Anyone have any other tips on how to accomplish this? Or is buying one these my best option?

smstonypoint · Jan 6, 2011

I am of no help in answering your questions, but I admire your tractor.

I noticed that the exact latitude and longitude were listed on some of the photos. I may be paranoid, but I would be leery of sharing that info.

Steve