Top Link ?

[LD1]

Personal preference.

The DPCV will indeed prevent the cylinder from bleeding off....but a good quality cylinder AND VALVE should not have a " noticeable" issue.

IF I leave my 1600# cutter suspended in the air the top link will bleed off (extend) maybe an inch per hour. No issues at all when working the machine.

IF you are relying on the DPCV to prevent blowing hoses with ground engaging equipment.....your cylinder for the toplink is too small.

AS to the couplers....pioneer is just a brand. For most ag stuff.....you want ISO 5675 in 1/2". But there are always exceptions.

 

[bill9068]

I’ve been thinking about a hydraulic top link for my kioti DK5510. Preferably cat 2. Any suggestions on where to get a good top link? Do they come as kits or do I need to buy hoses, couplers 90 elbows separately? I already have 2 sets of rear remotes.

 

[SylvainG]

Mine (Cat 1), came just the top-link with bushings. Had to buy the ORBM-8 NPTF 1/2 elbows, 1/2" hose and 1/2" quick coupler to connect to my remote.

 

[Cycledude]

I have a hydraulic top link without any check valve and it seems to work fine.
The extra hoses are a bit of a pain to deal with but not really that bad.
The weight of a hydraulic top link is a lot more than a standard top link so hooking and unhooking can get a little more tricky, I actually managed to get my finger pinched messing with it last fall, yes a stupid mistake but the same thing happened to a friend about the same time, he lost two fingernails but I only lost one so we were both very lucky it wasn’t worse. I learned a good lesson to be a little more careful .

 

[mikester]

Top link cylinders on sale now at princess auto

https://www.princessauto.com/en/top-link-cylinders/product/PA1000000426?skuId=8699449

Mine doesn't have the check valve - drift doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

[oosik]

My top link is from Fit Rite Hydraulics. I've had/used for eight years now. It does not have any type of check valve. It functions perfectly, never leaks down, has never leaked a drop. About 95% of its use is with my 1050# Rhino rear blade.

If yours leaks down or just plain leaks - time for maintenance.

 

[TMGT]

The lock is definitely more beneficial on a side link as it sees heavier loads, but all valve leak some, nothing to do with maintenence. I prefer the lock as it allows the hyd top l Iink to act like a mechanical one and not move when you don't want it to. The other benefit is it prevents the valve and hoses from seeing any additional loads when doing heavy work.

Personal preference, but I dont see any reason not to have a lock valve, unless you need float.

 

[Tinhack]

IF you are relying on the DPCV to prevent blowing hoses with ground engaging equipment.....your cylinder for the toplink is too small.

Not so at all. A larger cylinder will create MORE hose pressure, not less.

 

[TMGT]

Not so at all. A larger cylinder will create MORE hose pressure, not less.

Annually no, for a given outside force on a cylinder, the larger cylinder will see a lower pressure.
Its the same principle are how a larger cylinder will exert more force then a smaller cylinder at a given pressure, but inverse.

 

[_RaT_]

I have never used a top link with a check valve and have never had a need either. If I needed something in a very rigid and locked position I suppose that it would be beneficial but have never had that kind of implement on the back. Mowers, box blade, Harley rake etc get continual adjust throughout their use. I have never noticed leak down on either the side (tilt) or top link. The amount of force exerted I suspect is quite small compare to that of the loader lift cylinder where I have had minimal leak down as well, even after a couple thousand hours of use. If you have an implement that must be in an absolute position, the check would seem to be a good alternative or keep a solid link in place.