"Best" Category 2 Hydraulic Top Link?

[dcyrilc]

I will have to double check mine now, but I know that my factory pin goes into an aftermarket JD top link for your tractor. Not sure if .040" is much to worry about on our tractors anyway though.

I'm not going out to the ranch until next week, but I will check out mine then and see what they really are.

My main issue has to do with my wanting to keep and use the factory pin.

 

[jinman]

My main issue has to do with my wanting to keep and use the factory pin.

In this case, your only option as I see it is to drill out the ball to a slightly larger diameter when you get the HTL. The JD OEM toplink looks like its ball has been done exactly that way to my eyeball. Gotta love JD for thinking of making their toplink "special" in spite of the inconvenience to the customer.

 

[SPYDERLK]

In this case, your only option as I see it is to drill out the ball to a slightly larger diameter when you get the HTL. The JD OEM toplink looks like its ball has been done exactly that way to my eyeball. Gotta love JD for thinking of making their toplink "special" in spite of the inconvenience to the customer.

:confused2:Gotta hope for a very vocal and active buyer backlash.
larry

 

[dcyrilc]

In this case, your only option as I see it is to drill out the ball to a slightly larger diameter when you get the HTL. The JD OEM toplink looks like its ball has been done exactly that way to my eyeball. Gotta love JD for thinking of making their toplink "special" in spite of the inconvenience to the customer.

Thanks Jim. I didn't think of just drilling out the ball. Sometimes, it's the simple solutions which escape us.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks Jim. I didn't think of just drilling out the ball. Sometimes, it's the simple solutions which escape us.

In the case of a hardened ball [which it should be] it will be fun.
larry

 

[dcyrilc]

In the case of a hardened ball [which it should be] it will be fun.
larry

Good point.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I just got my CCM HTL today. Installation was pretty straight forward. The local farm store did not have all of the fittings I needed, so I am using a mixture of straight and 90 degree fittings. Either way, it is installed. Have not fired up the tractor to start pumping fluid, but I thought I would share my info thus far.

Someone was worried about using the tractor-to-toplink pin. Both ends of the Cat II HTL from CCM are Cat II in size. Never paid attention before, but my factory top link is Cat I on the tractor end and Cat II on the implement end. I had to install a Cat I to Cat II bushing on my tractor toplink pin. No biggy. However, I thought I would tell all because of the issue above with the bigger-than-Cat-I pin size. If you can get a bushing for that pin for a Cat II top link hole, you are in good shape. No need to "drill" the HTL. Don't know how you would do that anyway...

For those that use a HTL, do you leave it on the tractor when you are not using an implement? My factory top link stowed away on a hook real nice, but my HTL will either come off when not in use or I will have to come up with a better stowage mechanism. I will probably just remove it.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I just got my CCM HTL today. Installation was pretty straight forward. The local farm store did not have all of the fittings I needed, so I am using a mixture of straight and 90 degree fittings. Either way, it is installed. Have not fired up the tractor to start pumping fluid, but I thought I would share my info thus far.

Someone was worried about using the tractor-to-toplink pin. Both ends of the Cat II HTL from CCM are Cat II in size. Never paid attention before, but my factory top link is Cat I on the tractor end and Cat II on the implement end. I had to install a Cat I to Cat II bushing on my tractor toplink pin. No biggy. However, I thought I would tell all because of the issue above with the bigger-than-Cat-I pin size. If you can get a bushing for that pin for a Cat II top link hole, you are in good shape. No need to "drill" the HTL. Don't know how you would do that anyway...

For those that use a HTL, do you leave it on the tractor when you are not using an implement? My factory top link stowed away on a hook real nice, but my HTL will either come off when not in use or I will have to come up with a better stowage mechanism. I will probably just remove it.

Not sure what type of hook that your factory one is, but I just took my stock hook and opened it up so that it is big enough to hold the cylinder. This has worked out very good for me for the past 5 years.

 

[jinman]

My hook is in the center and above the toplink bracket on the tractor. It also swings side-to-side. I just raise the HTL and put the hook around the rigid hydraulic tubing near the DPOCV. Since it's only the weight of the HTL, the rigid tubing is fine for hanging the HTL on the CCM toplink.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Well, I got everything all hooked up. Works great! My only issue is a couple of leaks out of the banjo fittings on the cylinder. I tightened one and the leak went away. I have yet to tighten the other one because I didn't notice it when I had the breaker bar out.

If anyone is considering getting one of these from CCM, I must say they cylinder is very nice. Definately a professional outfit doing these. There is even some sort of computerized label affixed on the side that looks like test results.

I didn't know what to expect as far as color, but mine came as a gray that matches all of the 3ph components.

Can't wait to get out the cutter again...