How do you use your adjustable lower arm - level, tilted, float or adjustable?

[PandDLong]

I'm considering adding hydraulic tilt to my tractor and have read through many threads on the topic - the options and advantages. As with most things, the value of having it depends on how you use the tractor. I have pulled together what I read into this posting and I am looking for more tips.

I see 4 basic ways in which the adjustable side arm is used (whether it is the mechanical screw version or hydraulic).

1. Level - the length is set to ensure the attachment is sitting level relative to the tractor and it is intended to stay level while using the attachment.
3. Tilted - the length is set to give the attachment some degree of tilt relative to the tractor and it is intended to stay at the same angle while using the attachment.
5. Float - the length changes freely based upon the push-pull of the attachment during usage.
7. Adjustable - the length is adjusted during usage by the operator in the seat.

What I think I learned from the threads is that the options beyond Level (Tilt, Float and Adjustable) are primarily for contouring ground and maintaining ground shape.

How do you use your tilt?

When do you use float?

When are you actively adjusting the tilt while in the seat?

 

[ilander]

How do you use your tilt?

When do you use float?

When are you actively adjusting the tilt while in the seat?

I don't completely understand your question, but I assume you are referring to a 3 pt hitch? Where you can buy a tilt kit for that hitch, or more likely for the attachment you are using?

I will answer your questions for my application, a front end dozer that has the tilt function. If the implement you are using is a rear mounted blade, then my answers will be similar.

1. The tilt is controlled with a hydraulic control valve. It works great for leveling something left to right such as a trail or road while going forward. With enough tilt angle, it can be used to dig shallow V trenches.

2. Float is used primarily for back dragging.

3. Tilt is adjusted on the go to compensate for the shape of the terrain or desired change in levelness of the project.

 

[camshawn]

I have used the manual adjustment to level my back blade to adjust level as I change the cutting angle with the top link. Once it is set, I have not changed it much, maybe some fine adjustment if needed.
I have just bought an hydraulic adjustable top link from Princess Auto ( $250+ hoses $100) that I will install today. An adjustable side link will follow when I Finnish my larger back blade. This should give better control for leveling with the back blade without having to get off the tractor to make changes.

I float the 3 point when plowing snow. I do not see floating the tilt at this point. I use a front plow for most of my snow removal and only use the back blade in the corners and to drag away from buildings and objects.
Cam

 

[/pine]

When are you actively adjusting the tilt while in the seat?

Whenever the grading implement is not contacting the grade flush (almost constantly)...IMO a side link tilt cylinder is paramount for efficient grading...

 

[MtnViewRanch]

The hydraulic tilt function used on a 3pt hitch is used mainly for grading IMO. Not farm work. There are always exceptions, but in general no farm work.

The tilt function is used to get the implement to shape the ground side to side as you want-need it to be. This can be for leveling out a larger area, to creating a crown in a road to making a V ditch. Now most ground (that I have seen anyway) is not really constant as in the slope of the ground is all the same. This is where the hydraulic tilt really comes into use. Let's face it, most if not ALL people simply will not make as many manual adjustments as they would if they had a hydraulic tilt cylinder. Who wants to stop the tractor, get off the tractor, make the adjustment and hope that you made the adjustment correctly, get back on the tractor and go on their way for 15'-20' STOP and do this same thing over & over again. No one does that, they go on their way and figure that it is "good enough". Where as when you have hydraulic control of these functions at your finger tips, it is very easy and quick to make these adjustments when needed and there is no stopping and getting off and back on the tractor continuously. :thumbsup:

As far as when to use the float function with a hydraulic tilt cylinder, here are just a few places that it would be used.
I have several Y intersections on the over 2 miles of road that I maintain. At these intersections the camber of the road changes as you go around the corner. For maybe 40 feet right as I make the corner is where I kick the side link into the float mode and the implement just follows the contour of the road, not how or where the tractor is.
Another place would be when you have rougher ground in a field and not really wanting it to be flattened out, just want it to be cleaned up. If you were using a landscape rake, the rake will then follow the ground terrain. "Piston" has done this and reported excellent results here on TBN. :thumbsup:

I'm sure that there are many other situations that would be beneficial to be able to have and use the float function for both the top & side links of the 3pt hitch.

 

[PandDLong]

I don't completely understand your question, but I assume you are referring to a 3 pt hitch? Where you can buy a tilt kit for that hitch, or more likely for the attachment you are using?

Sorry for being unclear. Yes, I am referring to the 3 pt hitch and the option for replacing the screw-type adjustable arm with a hydraulic cylinder (aka 'tilt kit').

 

[PandDLong]

Another place would be when you have rougher ground in a field and not really wanting it to be flattened out, just want it to be cleaned up. If you were using a landscape rake, the rake will then follow the ground terrain. "Piston" has done this and reported excellent results here on TBN. :thumbsup:

This sounds like it opens up a new line of thinking (for me). Does it make sense that any attachment which you want to follow the contour of the ground would work better with a float tilt? Mowing, bush-hogging, snow blower, landscape rake, disc harrow...

For me, that would put a floating tilt into use more often than not.

Raises a new question - would that type of motion put stress on the 3 point bracket of the attachment as the geometry is slightly changing constantly or does the overall 3 pt adapt and maintain the right geometry - or is the amount of movement too slight to be of concern?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

This sounds like it opens up a new line of thinking (for me). Does it make sense that any attachment which you want to follow the contour of the ground would work better with a float tilt? Mowing, bush-hogging, snow blower, landscape rake, disc harrow...

For me, that would put a floating tilt into use more often than not.

Raises a new question - would that type of motion put stress on the 3 point bracket of the attachment as the geometry is slightly changing constantly or does the overall 3 pt adapt and maintain the right geometry - or is the amount of movement too slight to be of concern?

I don't think it would work with a bush hog. It would just let the front corner edge dig down into the ground. A floating top link works best with a bush hog. Now it would work for a finish mower that has a wheel at each corner. I have customers that use it for their snow blowers and yes it will work well for disking.

As far as stress on the 3pt, nothing to worry about IMO.

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't use a hydraulic float position for the tilt cylinder in my work, I use the float position on the lower linkage built into the tractors hitch. This provides enough slack for most raking jobs that I have done. Usuallly the 3ph is adjusted to allow for play in the hitch meaning you can raise up either of the lower links a few inches by hand without an implement in place. The weight of the implement provides enough downward force and the implement is then held up by the lower hitch arms. I think this is preferrable for most operations as an implement can ride over a hidden boulder or stump without putting as much strain on the implement or tractor.

I can't remember when I needed the hitch to be ridgid side to side lately. When ditching wiht a rearblade it can be helpful to have more control of the blade but my rearblade isn't good enough to use this way.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't use a hydraulic float position for the tilt cylinder in my work, I use the float position on the lower linkage built into the tractors hitch. This provides enough slack for most raking jobs that I have done. Usuallly the 3ph is adjusted to allow for play in the hitch meaning you can raise up either of the lower links a few inches by hand without an implement in place. The weight of the implement provides enough downward force and the implement is then held up by the lower hitch arms. I think this is preferrable for most operations as an implement can ride over a hidden boulder or stump without putting as much strain on the implement or tractor.

I can't remember when I needed the hitch to be ridgid side to side lately. When ditching wiht a rearblade it can be helpful to have more control of the blade but my rearblade isn't good enough to use this way.

Steve, you need to remember that only a few tractors even have the floating slots in the side link clevises. Even JD only has those slots in their deluxe models. So the majority of people do not have that floating option that you are talking about and using. But I agree with you that using those floating slots can have a big advantage for different types of 3pt work.