Hydraulic Top Link Drawbacks

[Boria]

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,

 

[DK35vince]

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

 

[jenkinsph]

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.

 

[Boria]

What about pushing backwards with a blade? Would that cause any strain on the hydraulic top link?

 

[jenkinsph]

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

 

[Fallon]

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.

 

[oosik]

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.

 

[DK35vince]

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.

 

[Fallon]

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.

 

[bumperm]

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

 

[DK35vince]

Piloted check valves kill the ability to use float on the cylinder, but stop leakdown issues caused by the control valve.

True.
But many/most remotes valves do not have float feature anyway.
I know mine does not have the float feature, so its a non issue.

 

[EMB5530]

All uses are great on hydraulic top link and I am just going to reiterate what 1 member said just to make sure it was caught. "it makes hooking up implements easier" No longer are you fiddle farting around when you back up to a heavy brush cutter when your not exactly squared up w/ it.
Just hook up the top link first then push or pull it to get one arm hooked then go for the second.

Also, as another poster wrote "talk to Brian at FitRite" many here will agree he is an upstanding guy to deal w/.

 

[britbike2001]

I'll never go back to a regular top link. I can adjust a cutting edge, the attack angle of a tiller and even use it to gain more clearance for the chipper when traveling through the woods. It's the bomb when running the pallet forks. I went with a swivel eye dual acting cylinder myself. 1X12X0.625 DA HYD CYL SWIVEL EYES

 

[mfreund]

I have a similar cylinder from Surplus Center. It is worth it. I have not had the check valves and cannot see the need for them on a top link.

I did have a clearance issue where the cylinder hooked up to the tractor. I cut off the original ball end and added a weld on ball swivel and problem is solved.

 

[BlacknTan]

I cannot think of a single negative ... And, I will never be without a hydro top link ever again!

 

[Baby Grand]

As I've said, many times, the top cylinder (and the tilt cylinder) transformed my tractor into a much more productive machine. I can get things done much quicker, so I can get lots more done in a day's time. And I don't get many day's time on the tractor, between work and other obligations.

Get in touch with Brian, at FitRite. He's a straight shooter and knows his business inside out. Since his work gets constant feedback on TBN, he has a vested interest in having satisfied customers, which he does surprisingly well.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

To the best of my knowledge, worse case scenario is that that a hydraulic link is only as strong as the OEM top link. In most cases the hydraulic unit is stronger than the OEM link.

Oh, the draw back is the additional cost to purchase and be set up to operate it. For what the manufacturers charge for the std OEM top links in the parts dept, I'm not so sure that they shouldn't be installing the hydraulic top links as std equipment. :laughing:

 

[Boria]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like the hydraulic top is the way l'm headed. LOL

 

[/pine]

The only thing negative about getting a hydraulic top link (side link too) is the sore spot you will have from kicking yourself for not getting one sooner...!

 

[jenkinsph]

True.
But many/most remotes valves do not have float feature anyway.
I know mine does not have the float feature, so its a non issue.

Better hydraulic packages offer valves with float position. Good valves are less prone to leaking too and that might make the difference in how important the check valves are to you. If your valves leak too much then the check valves can be more important to you.