Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks

[boggen]

Using a simple manual ball shutoff valve on the TNT cylinders is a way to provide positive holding when needed but still allow float if desired. Another item that I find very useful is a remote position indicator showing the tilt cylinder position. This lets me see, at a glance, whether I'm running level or at a preset tilt angle. When running a back blade, for example, it lets me tilt slightly to gather more dirt on one side and then bring back to level to feather the dirt out all on the go.

manual shut off valve, now that is to easy! open it just a tad to slow things down. (acting like an orifice) to help make those fine tuning adjustments easier. open it up all the way for float like option through regular valve, and then shut it off for hold position. as long as the valve is rated for the PSI. ((normal stores menards, lowes, home depot, ace hardware,etc... do not normally sell valves rated for PSI that our tractors use, and will more likely exploded and fail quickly if they are used...needing to find a source online most likely to order a manual valve))

 

[bumperm]

Using a simple manual ball shutoff valve on the TNT cylinders is a way to provide positive holding when needed but still allow float if desired. Another item that I find very useful is a remote position indicator showing the tilt cylinder position. This lets me see, at a glance, whether I'm running level or at a preset tilt angle. When running a back blade, for example, it lets me tilt slightly to gather more dirt on one side and then bring back to level to feather the dirt out all on the go.

I don't understand how a simple on/off valve would get a cylinder to float?

Since the cylinder (piston) end has more displacement than the rod end (due to the volume of the rod itself), simply bypassing the two ports with a mechanical valve wouldn't allow float unless there was air in the system. I'd think you'd have hydraulic lock even with the bypass valve open unless the excess or dirth of fluid is ported to the tank.

bumper

 

[npalen]

I don't understand how a simple on/off valve would get a cylinder to float?

Since the cylinder (piston) end has more displacement than the rod end (due to the volume of the rod itself), simply bypassing the two ports with a mechanical valve wouldn't allow float unless there was air in the system. I'd think you'd have hydraulic lock even with the bypass valve open unless the excess or dirth of fluid is ported to the tank.

bumper

Yes, I failed to mention that a float spool valve is needed.

 

[boggen]

below valve with float option
1 SPOOL SV VALVE OPEN CENTER W/POWER BEYOND

then plumbing 1 of these in between above valve, and the hyd cylinder, assuming cylinder end the ball valve would be placed.
Surplus Center

at least that is what i am assuming?

 

[npalen]

Npalen, hadn't thought of using a manual shutoff valve in that way. Any drawbacks to it, other than the fact that you've got to remember to open and close it?

What kind of position indicator are you using for your tilt angle? Great idea, could you maybe post a pic?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...l-indicator-tilt-cylinder-tnt.html?highlight=

This is a thread that shows some pics of the position indicator.

SAE 6 CARBON STEEL BALL VALVE 72-902
A typical ball type valve.

 

[theSeb]

I have been thinking about getting myself one of these, since it would be so useful to make adjustments on the go, but I don't have a button on the fender for the hydraulics, so I cannot see how I would be able to actually hitch something up without jumping in and out of the tractor and swearing a lot.

 

[Fallon]

I have been thinking about getting myself one of these, since it would be so useful to make adjustments on the go, but I don't have a button on the fender for the hydraulics, so I cannot see how I would be able to actually hitch something up without jumping in and out of the tractor and swearing a lot.

Get a quick hitch... I can hitch up to pretty much all my gear without getting out of my seat no matter how crooked or un-level it's sitting. Granted I still have to get off to hook up a PTO or additional hydraulics & flip the flotating toplink into the hook for the rotary cutter. But for 80% of the pain a quick hitch & TnT makes it go away.

You may need to modify some of your gear to conform to the standard dimensions & be quick hitch compatible, but it's worth it.

 

[theSeb]

Get a quick hitch... I can hitch up to pretty much all my gear without getting out of my seat no matter how crooked or un-level it's sitting. Granted I still have to get off to hook up a PTO or additional hydraulics & flip the flotating toplink into the hook for the rotary cutter. But for 80% of the pain a quick hitch & TnT makes it go away.

You may need to modify some of your gear to conform to the standard dimensions & be quick hitch compatible, but it's worth it.

Yup, that's the only way I had imagined to make a hydraulic top link work. I am on the other side of the pond (England) and I have found a similar system from Austria, which is more pricey, but this stuff even works for the PTO and hydraulics (no need to get out of the cab with the top of the range mode). I have been oohing and aahing over it, but the time saving will pay for itself pretty quickly.

Movies | Gangl Docking Systems

 

[Fallon]

Yup, that's the only way I had imagined to make a hydraulic top link work. I am on the other side of the pond (England) and I have found a similar system from Austria, which is more pricey, but this stuff even works for the PTO and hydraulics (no need to get out of the cab with the top of the range mode). I have been oohing and aahing over it, but the time saving will pay for itself pretty quickly.

Movies | Gangl Docking Systems

John Deere has the autohitch option for iMatch (their term/brand for their implementation of the generic quick hitch standard). It only does the PTO, not hydraulics & I hear there aren't many compatible implements around at all. It's a $700 upgrade to the iMatch quick hitch I think + requiring modifications to the implements. For some reason it's not very popular...

 

[Xfaxman]

I have been thinking about getting myself one of these, since it would be so useful to make adjustments on the go, but I don't have a button on the fender for the hydraulics, so I cannot see how I would be able to actually hitch something up without jumping in and out of the tractor and swearing a lot.

Rig up a out back lever connected to the lever that the top link is plugged into.

Like this: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/312961-attaching-removing-3-point-implements.html?highlight=#post3827550

Somebody did one on a cab, but I could not find it.