Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks

   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #1  

Boria

Member
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
39
Location
Baconton, GA
Tractor
Massey 1643
I have been considering a hydraulic top link for my tractor. Wondering what drawbacks some of you have come across that went this route?

Thanks,
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #2  
I have been considering a hydraulic top link for my tractor. Wondering what drawbacks some of you have come across that went this route?

Thanks,
No drawbacks I am aware of.
I have been running a hydraulic top link for 13 years.
But I always recommend top link and tilt cylinders with a check valves so the thing stays where you put it and doesn't leak off
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #3  
I can't think of any problems with top n tilt sure makes everything easier to adjust. I haven't needed check valves and prefer to be able to feather or quickly adjust on the fly.
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks
  • Thread Starter
#4  
What about pushing backwards with a blade? Would that cause any strain on the hydraulic top link?
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #5  
Not a problem as long as you have a properly sized and constructed hydraulic top link. I would recommend you talk to Brian at Fit Rite Hydraulics he is a member here with many satisfied customers. He can set you up with the a top link to match your tractor needs.

Fit Rite Hydraulics - fitritehydraulics.com
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #6  
The hydraulic top link is going to be at least equal, if not stronger than stock no matter what direction.

A hydro top link will likely have some bleed down over time. How fast depends on the cylinder & more likely the valve. Some people use piloted valves on the cylinders to combat this, but it kills your potential to use float.

My stock toplink unscrewed itself WAY faster using my rotary cutter than my hydro. Takes a day or 2 for mine to leak down an inch or so now with a high quality valve from Fit-Right. Some people with cheap valves get an inch or more of observed leakdown in an hour & are within the valve manufacturers leakage spec.
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #7  
My hydraulic top link is a 3" unit - significantly bigger than the manual top link that is OEM with the tractor and even more HD than the after market class II top link I purchased. I reverse my rear blade quite often when moving snow around my out buildings without any ill effects. I use the rear blade to grade/scrape dirt, at times, in reverse.

What makes the hyd top link so nice for me is adjustment on the go - I use it with the - rear blade, roll-over box blade, land plane grading scraper, disk harrow, moldboard plow - actually all my implements. It was either get on/off the tractor time after time to tweak the manual top link or make those fine adjustments while on the go with the hyd unit.

I found it to be particularly handy with my moldboard plow. Other than the angle adjustments while plowing - I can easily raise the plow to it max elevation and more easily clear obstructions. My moldboard plow hangs down a country mile and would catch & drag across everything. With the manual top link I'd have to stop, get off and rack the top link all the way in just to raise the tip of the plow that extra little bit.

I've found no need for check valves on the system. I've had the FitRite hydraulic top link now for a year and have found nothing negative with this unit.
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #8  
I haven't needed check valves and prefer to be able to feather or quickly adjust on the fly.
Check valves make no difference there. I have the check valves and can feather and adjust on the fly just the same as a non check valve cylinder.
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #9  
Check valves make no difference there. I have the check valves and can feather and adjust on the fly just the same as a non check valve cylinder.

Piloted check valves kill the ability to use float on the cylinder, but stop leakdown issues caused by the control valve.
 
   / Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks #10  
I'm using this top link on my B3350, it comes with dual pilot operated check valves installed, so it simply connected up like a normal double acting cylinder. They also have a longer Cat 1, the this Cat one fits my tractor perfectly - - almost. I did have to shorten the bushing by 1/8" on each side 1/4" total to get it to fit the tractor end. Used a right angle grinder. To get cut square, I put a length of 3/4" steel rod in my vise, but cylinder end bushing over rod and adjusted rod to 1/8" below bushing end - - the it was simple to grind down bushing and maintain end square - flip and repeat.

I also fabricated restrictors w/ 1/32" hole to slow both top and tilt cylinder down for ease of feathering and adjustment.

2X8.25X1.18 CAT I HYD DA TOP LINK CYL

No drawbacks at all. Makes hooking up implements much easier, as well as adjusting things on the fly, lifting implements higher than normal for trailer loading clearance etc. Oh, and it does have this certain cool factor that is priceless. :c)

bumper
 
 

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