Broken top link

dlabrie · Jul 26, 2002

I was using my landscape rake on my B2910. I had the top link extended just about all the way to lift the tines. The wheels on the rake were all the way down. I was going down hill and stopped inches from a tree. When I tried to back up I raised the rake and backed up. The wheels caught the ground. The screw/eye extending from the top link to the rake bent and ripped out of the threaded portion of the top link. I had to hitch a comealong to the ROPS and rake to lift it so I could back away from the tree and head for the garage.
I went to the dealer. They had a generic top link replacement that was a bit larger than the original. Cost $25 verses $125 for a Kubota replacement and X # of days waiting. The end that attached to the tractor was about 1/16 inch too wide to fit. I ground off a little of each side and it works just fine. It came with a bar that appears to slide through the center of the top link to adjust it. It is burled on each end and doesn't go through . Am I suppose to drive it through with a hammer or is there another way it is to be used?
I'll try to send some pictures later today.
David

alvanko · Jul 26, 2002

Yes . Just drive it through with a hammer .

Mrwurm · Jul 26, 2002

I had to buy a new top link when I bent mine. Same situation, had to drive it through with a hammer.

JohnMiller3 · Jul 26, 2002

...Am I suppose to drive it through with a hammer...?

Yep...

dlabrie · Jul 26, 2002

Thanks, I'll take it off and drive it through. Here is a picture of the broken link.

dlabrie · Jul 26, 2002

And the new top link.

JohnMiller3 · Jul 26, 2002

Hi Dave,

If the body threads are not damaged... you can buy a "replacement end" at any farm supply store for ~ $5-9.

These are fairly inexpensive units... a complete Cat I unit runs about $15.-17... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

normde2001 · Jul 26, 2002

Yep, that's why they call them "links". Links are for pulling, "pitmans" are for pushing.

Mrwurm · Jul 26, 2002

Your picture of the broken link looks just like mine. All bent up. In my case it was the jam nut that got caught in the frame of the rake. When I lifted the rake the jam-nut wedged into the frame and the force bent the top link. My new link is exactly like yours except I removed the jam-nut to make sure I don't destroy the new one.

jasonf · Jul 26, 2002

Based on the picture, you should be able to cut off the part of the threaded rod before the bend. That would leave you with a backup toplink that you could use when a shorter toplink is needed. Or you could burn off the old threaded rod and just buy some new threaded rod and have it welded to the old swivel that you just burned off . Waste not, Want not /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

dlabrie · Jul 27, 2002

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr>

If the body threads are not damaged... you can buy a "replacement end" at any farm supply store for ~ $5-9.These are fairly inexpensive units... a complete Cat I unit runs about $15.-17...

<hr></blockquote>

Unfortunately, There are no farm supply stores around here. (N. Central NH) I have to go to my dealer and pay very high prices, $25 for my complete Cat I unit. ($125 for a Bota unit) 9 times out of 10, what I want is not in stock and has to be ordered. Then what is ordered is usually the wrong item./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gifIf I don't need it NOW, I will order from a catalog or on line. Does anyone know of a farm/tractor supply store on line where I might get a new end for the link? I am going to try cutting the one I have for a spare. I am definitely in the "Waste not, Want not "/ clean plate club/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gifDavid

jbs · Jul 27, 2002

You gotta be kidding, $125 for that piece of junk. I had a bend in mine after the first day of normal use.I found a much beefier replacement at a local Masey dealer for about 20 bucks,of course I had to endure the abuse from the smart-[censored] Masey counter guys. They said they use Kubota top links for screen door turn buckels

cmsedore · Jul 27, 2002

I find the jam nut to be useless anyway. I eventually got tired of the top link vibrating loose--I took a hammer and gave the threads a few medium-hard whacks up one side of one end of the link. Just enough to put a very slight flat spot on one side of the threads--it doesn't vibrate loose anymore and I don't have to mess with the jam nut. It takes slightly more force to turn it, but I can still do it by hand.

The one before my current modified version vibrated apart during a long day of mowing fields and I lost the center section.

I must say that when I saw the top link that came with my Kubota L4610, I was a little disappointed--not much to it when you compare it with other parts of the 3 pt.

-Chris

DK35vince · Jul 27, 2002

$ 125 for a top link !!
Sure hope Kubota's parts aren't all priced that ridiculous.

Bird · Jul 27, 2002

I had put hydraulic Top 'N Tilt on my '99 B2710 and when I sold it, I forgot to give the buyer the OEM top link and non-adjustable side link, so I've still got them (and don't know where the buyer is or whether he'd even want them). I don't know whether they're the same on the B2910 or not, but if anyone wants them, I'd take $25 plus shipping for both pieces.

MikePA · Jul 27, 2002

found a much beefier replacement at a local Masey dealer...

Just remember, when you beef up one area, when stress is applied something else will break. I'd rather have a toplink bend/break than something it's connected to. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

jbs · Jul 27, 2002

I agree Mike, but remember I replaced a cat.1 with a cat. 1,not a 2 or 3. My point was that I found a replacement that appeared to be better made and stronger at a fraction of the cost of the O.E.M. I hope my Kubota is not so weak that the factory has to design top links to act as shear pins

MikePA · Jul 27, 2002

I hope my Kubota is not so weak that the factory has to design top links to act as shear pins 

Now that would be a really bad design! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

dgood1 · Jul 28, 2002

Maybe someone will start selling the top link pins in grade 2 so that they can shear instead of the top link.

Don

Soundguy · Jul 31, 2002

Funny you mention that. A while back, I bent the adjustable lift link on my yanmar, and went down to the NH dealership that I bought my NH 1920 from. I pretty much knew that the adjustable link on a tc18 would fit it. ...They wouldn't sell it to me.... 'sorry.. it's not made for that type of tractor...etc'
So I went down the road to the massey dealership.. bought something close.. had a friend do a little hand fitting on it with a smoke wrench and it worked great.... Gotta love the dealership that helps you even when you don't have a tractor from them... and makes you wonder about the other dealership where you just bought one.. and the counter clerk gives you interference.

Soundguy

You gotta be kidding, $125 for that piece of junk. I had a bend in mine after the first day of normal use.I found a much beefier replacement at a local Masey dealer for about 20 bucks,of course I had to endure the abuse from the smart-[censored] Masey counter guys. They said they use Kubota top links for screen door turn buckels