Hydraulic Top link or Top and Tilt both?

[Not Retired Yet]

For those that have hydraulic links on smaller size tractors (ck20s, ct122, etc), do you use the hydraulic tilt much? I'm checking options and want a hydraulic top link at least.

I need to cut atv and walking paths with a box blade. Is hydraulic tilt very handy on uneven ground? If so, where would I find a kit or something for a ck20s or ck27? (I posted this in the Kioti Owning/Operating forum but thought I try a larger audience.)
Thanks!

 

[Johnbro]

For those that have hydraulic links on smaller size tractors (ck20s, ct122, etc), do you use the hydraulic tilt much? I'm checking options and want a hydraulic top link at least.

I need to cut atv and walking paths with a box blade. Is hydraulic tilt very handy on uneven ground? If so, where would I find a kit or something for a ck20s or ck27? (I posted this in the Kioti Owning/Operating forum but thought I try a larger audience.)
Thanks!

The tilt is definitely less useful than the top link on a BB. But what you can do with it is tilt the blade extremely and use it to cut a ditch along a road or path. Of course, you could also do that with a turnbuckle but it's a heck of alot easier with the TnT.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

People feel differently about this. When I bought my 32hp tractor, it had 1 remote.The first thing I did was to put a tilt cylinder on the 3pt. For me it was more important to be able to tilt the box side to side vs front to back. I did add 2 aftermarket remotes later for my top and tilt system and have the factory remote for angling my landscape rake.

If you are going to do this, you will be best off doing both "TnT" hydraulics IMO.

 

[TripleR]

As MtnViewRanch says, you are going to get different opinions. I have used TnT and while it was nice, I did not put it on any of my tractors and really haven't missed it. I do have hydraulic top link which I find invaluable with a box blade. Now if they were free...

Try to operate one to get a good idea.

I believe you can get everything you need from CCM.

Good luck.

 

[/pine]

As pointed out, a tilt cylinder can be just as useful (or more) than a top link depending on what you're working...

Personally...what made up my mind was every time I had to stop and get off the tractor to make an adjustment...it gets old...

 

[Not Retired Yet]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your input. I've got several acres of uneven ground that hasn't been kept up in decades. What I would like to do is cut paths for fencing, ATV, and/or walking. Right now it's just a bunch of scrub brush, briars, etc. I can see a lot of box blade work to be done. This is why I was asking about top AND tilt or what. (I do need to cut some rain runoff paths too so I can try and get some areas to dry out a little.)

 

[TripleR]

If I was doing that, I would give serious consideration to one too.

Here is a good link if you haven't seen it.

How to use a box blade

 

[SPYDERLK]

Depending what tractor you get, a Bobcat SK Tilt Tatch for the loader might be just the ticket.
larry

 

[Not Retired Yet]

Thanks! That might have been the video that convinced me to add hydraulics on the back end to the list of must haves! (Everything Attachments does have some good how-to videos).

That tilt tatch looks like it would be handy too but I can't afford that size of tractor! (The frame might be a little on the large size for what I want to do.)

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If you decide to go with a CK27, I would very seriously consider one of these rear blades or some other brand of equal weight-duty rating. A rear blade works great for cutting new roads-paths since everything rolls off the end, you do not have all the maneuvering around that you do with a box blade to get it emptied out. And you will find that a tilt cylinder is more advantageous with a rear blade.

Just another :2cents: worth of advice to think about.

 

[magicheater]

I have both, one on each tractor. The top cylinder by far is the first choice. Tilt, at least for me, is a once in a while operation. When I do it mechanically I know it will not change. I have three point forks so use the top cylinder a lot. I am a proponent of installing a joystick :thumbsup: for the remotes. Much handier for any combination you may choose to have.

 

[Bird]

Like the other guys, the top link was the one I used the most, but being able to tilt the box blade sure did help in a lot of cases. I did both at the same time on my B2710 Kubota.

 

[Not Retired Yet]

Thanks everybody, I thought the ability to tilt a blade would be pretty handy. Looks like TnT is on the list!

 

[jnjpream]

If you're going to just smooth the trails then you wouldn't need tilt. But if you are looking to change the pitch of trails, cut into hill sides, cut drainage, etc, TNT is almost a must. If you tried that stuff and didn't have tilt, then you can easily spend more time adjusting than you would cutting.

 

[Not Retired Yet]

That's what I was afraid of. These will be new trails cut into un-kept ground.

 

[boggen]

if i had a choice it would be TNT. trying to adjust manual can be a pain some times. more so if you get yourself up in a bind somehow. and it requires a pipe wrench to turn the turn buckle.

if anything having a TNT has less of a risk factor. due to your not between rear of tractor and the implement/attachment trying to adjust something.

the thing is do you really need a TNT. no. you can get by with what you have. takes a little more work, but *shrugs*