Hayloft
Bronze Member
Anybody install an actuator for adjusting tractor top Link ?
Electric Top Link
- Thread starter Hayloft
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Rustyiron
Super Member
I don't think that they are anywhere near tough enough for that use.
LS Tractor Owner
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Here is a link to another thread discussing this....
www.tractorbynet.com
Electric top and tilt
I tried looking up to find TnT online. All I found was a TBN discussion about it. You obsessed about electric having to be big and tough to be able to move the top link and side link while in motion. HELLO! When you adjust by hand, you don't do it in motion. Why expect an electric one to...
www.tractorbynet.com
OP
Hayloft
Bronze Member
Yeah, well I don't know much about selecting the right actuator for this job but there are some pretty hefty heavy duty actuators out there, from hundred lbs force up to more than 1,000 lbs force. When using a manual top link cylinder it doesn't take that much force for sure. Seems the rod ends would likely need to be modified to fit the cat 1. Still looking.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Simply adjusting the length is not the load that I'd worry about.
It's the 6' - 7' wide implement and the shock loads, picture a box scraper backing up doing a little grading/pushing backwards and you "catch" a rock or stump bringing the tractor to an immediate stop, or driving the tractor back to the house after bush hogging in a higher gear and you cross that little bump or groundhog hole and that you forgot about and the heavy mower gets thrown up and down pretty violently....
They don't use 3/4" or bigger acme threaded rod if it weren't a necessary.
minimum.
5030
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A linear actuator with sufficient load rating is gonna cost you maybe 3 times what a cylinder will, and then you'll have to modify the ends because none of them come with the ends that will fit a top link.
Been running large farm tractors with many, many rear mounted implements for the last 35 years and I've never felt the need for a TNT.
Been running large farm tractors with many, many rear mounted implements for the last 35 years and I've never felt the need for a TNT.
OP
Hayloft
Bronze Member
All good points. And I guess if electric top links was a good idea there would already be a ton of products on the market! Thanks for the discussion !
workinonit
Elite Member
I never had a hyd top link until I bought my last tractor. One of the best things I ever bought. I just put an Ag South el cheapo on it.
npalen
Elite Member
There was an electric over hydraulic top link posted here on TBN a while back. Need to find it again as I don't remember the details. It might be the answer for someone who doesn't have and doesn't want to add rear remotes.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Hayloft now you've reminded me that there is a hydraulically adjustable top link that's self contained. You can't adjust it from the seat but.... I'll look for a link or name.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Tractor Top Link Hydraulic Cylinders | Hydraulic Cylinders | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com
Tractor Top Link Hydraulic Cylinders,Hydraulic Cylinders,Hydraulics, CATEGORY 1 TOP LINK CYLINDER Brand new, AMA category 1 top link cylinder. Use in
www.surpluscenter.com
Edit; nope in reading the q&a apparently it's just a strange looking cylinder that requires a hydraulic circuit. Not sure why I thought it was self contained but obviously I didn't read enough about it.
Last edited:
ptsg
Super Member
May it was the Hydraulink that you were looking for?
Looks like it's been discontinued anyway.
Hydraulink Category 1 Toplink | Tractor Top Link Hydraulic Cylinders | Hydraulic Cylinders | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com
Hydraulink Category 1 Toplink, Tractor Top Link Hydraulic Cylinders, HYDRAULINK CATEGORY 1 TOPLINK, HYDRAULINK TOP LINK CYLINDER Brand new,Hydraulink,HL101,
www.surpluscenter.com
npalen
Elite Member
I believe it was a hydraulic cylinder with a 12 VDC powerpac mounted on it.
Rustyiron
Super Member
That's the one. It's been a while since I first saw it and I was thinking about a different application for one.
Thanks, that helps me with my self confidence, at least of my memory.
Too bad it's discontinued.
npalen
Elite Member
Mini-Motion Package (MMP) from KYB Americas Corporation
The KYB Mini-Motion Package (MMP) is an Electric over Hydraulic Linear Actuator featuring a DC Motor, Hydraulic Pump, Valve and Cylinder all integrated into a compact unit.
www.kybfluidpower.com
A search brought up this unit which is interesting as a 12 volt powered self contained hydraulic cylinder.
npalen
Elite Member
LD1
Epic Contributor
Even a 1000lb actuator is way too small for even most compact tractors.
For a mid-30ish HP compact....Id consider a 2" hydraulic cylinder as the bear minimum. And at 2500psi and a 1" rod....thats good for ~7,800lbs extending and ~5900lbs retracting.
Gotta handle the dynamic shock loading as already mentioned when you have a heavy implement in transport.
And anything that is ground engaging is putting ALOT of force on the toplink. A blade, plow, subsoiler, etc. Its trying to rotate around your 3PH arms. So the force below the arms where said implement is doing its work is translated into trying to compress the toplink
For a mid-30ish HP compact....Id consider a 2" hydraulic cylinder as the bear minimum. And at 2500psi and a 1" rod....thats good for ~7,800lbs extending and ~5900lbs retracting.
Gotta handle the dynamic shock loading as already mentioned when you have a heavy implement in transport.
And anything that is ground engaging is putting ALOT of force on the toplink. A blade, plow, subsoiler, etc. Its trying to rotate around your 3PH arms. So the force below the arms where said implement is doing its work is translated into trying to compress the toplink
