Toplink Hydraulic Top Links...RedLand Hill?

[jinman]

I'd say that qualifies as a sweeping generalization. In many cases these check valves merely compensate for substandard performance of cheap cylinders and/or leakdown through aging tractor remove valves. //greg//

I think your statement qualifies as a sweeping generalization itself. I would say in no case will a DPOCV compensate for a leaky cylinder. It only compensates for external "issues." If a cylinder leaks internally, the fluid will leak from one side to the other past the seal. If it's a cheap, inferior, leaky cylinder, its performance will not be improved.

 

[couchsachraga]

Wow...3 pages on top links. Guess it's still a hot topic!

FWIW I've jury-rigged two different non-check valved cylinders into place. One was a freebie from a friend (that turned out to be MUCH too long for most of my applications), and the other was just inexpensive and I needed something to use immediately rather than wait for the correct size CCM unit (as I mentioned I have a side link from them, and have nothing but good things to say about the CCM hydraulic set up or cylinders).

My jury-rigged cylinders have not had any appreciable leakdown, even with heavier (800lbs plus) implements. Regarding shock loads, I tend to be adjusting it so much it really doesn't seem to matter. In a perfect workd I would definitely get a CCM top link with check valves, no doubt about it. But, right now they're not available, hence this post.

It's good to hear good things about Redland Hill. Their cylinders may be "less than perfect" as they don't have check valves, but if thats not a priority, or you need one immediately, it sounds like an OK place to deal with.


Thanks for your advice all around!
Couchsachraga
P.S. MadReferree-I think part of the reason a few folks took issue with your post is you always have extremely well informed, clear posts, usually without any bias at all, but when it comes to top links you VERY firmly believe they should have check valves (or at least that's how it comes across). I'm not saying that's good or bad, just that's how the posts tone read.

 

[MadReferee]

P.S. MadReferree-I think part of the reason a few folks took issue with your post is you always have extremely well informed, clear posts, usually without any bias at all, but when it comes to top links you VERY firmly believe they should have check valves (or at least that's how it comes across). I'm not saying that's good or bad, just that's how the posts tone read.

Thank you. I have seen and heard of too many problems with non-check valve cylinders which is why I take the stand I do. As Joe Friday would say, "Just the facts, Ma'am".

 

[N80]

On topic, but on a different tangent, I continue to find it extremely frustrating that there is no reliable, local (as in on this continent) outlet for this product. Every time this topic comes up the same issues are discussed and virtually nothing is resolved. I understand that this type of product probably wouldn't sell as much as quick-hitch systems or even tooth bars or pallet forks but there is _clearly_ a market for them. I also think that simply having some place to easily purchase them from would greatly expand the market. Everyone who has one seems to love it but in general it seems like the whole idea of a simple HTL is a sort of insider secret. If more people were able to get one, more people would tell other people and the demand would go up.

It just seems like a someone could make some money by offering a range of lengths for Cat I and II implements, with the option of getting it with or without the check valve (and the ability to easily add one later) and keeping a reasonable inventory. And maybe more importantly having someone to answer the phone or email inquiries.

I want one and guess that I'll wait for CCM but they haven't even answered my emails. Which doesn't inspire confidence.

 

[MadReferee]

It just seems like a someone could make some money by offering a range of lengths for Cat I and II implements, with the option of getting it with or without the check valve (and the ability to easily add one later) and keeping a reasonable inventory. And maybe more importantly having someone to answer the phone or email inquiries.

Sounds simple, but in the real world not practical, unless of course you were a larger dealer or company who also sold some other stuff whose profits could help cover the overhead costs associated with what you are proposing. I am sure that if it was financially viable it would already be implemented by someone. CCM has tried and it obviously is not that much a money maker or they would be restocking at a faster rate.

For an individual or small company, by the time you add in the cash needed to purchase an initial inventory of different stroke cylinders, plus ends, plus check valves (how many? 25, 50, 100, 200?) and the labor to add the ends and check valves, and the phone and computer ordering systems, you probably would have to charge a significant amount of money to make any decent profit. Oh, and don't forget your time too. Would you be willing to pay $350-$450 or so for one? Not me.

 

[N80]

I think $250 is the going price at CCM and people seem to like them.

But I think you've got it right, it will take a larger company already in the cylinder business. That's what I'd expect and hope for. No matter how you look at it, there either is a market that isn't getting tapped or there isn't a market. To me, it looks like there is a market, but I'm hardly a marketing expert.

Edit: You say it isn't practical but there are several folks doing it, they just aren't doing a very good job. I don't know if its the practical aspects causing their trouble or, well, just because they aren't on the ball.

 

[MadReferee]

You say it isn't practical but there are several folks doing it, they just aren't doing a very good job. I don't know if its the practical aspects causing their trouble or, well, just because they aren't on the ball.

It's most likely the practical aspects. In order to get a good price you have to buy in volume. In order to sell at a price people are willing to pay you have to buy inexpensively. In order to buy at all you have to have financing ($$). From what CCI has posted here in the past, they buy in europe and ship only when they can get enough other goods purchased (tillers, etc) to fill a couple of containers. This saves on transportation, customs, etc. I am not privy to their business model or inventory mix concerns or marketing plan so I can't comment any further.

 

[stevenf]

This probably won't make me popular with some of you guys or maybe even Mark Carter but I talked to Mark yesterday and he said he did have a FEW of the Cat 2 version of the hydraulic top links in stock. He laughed and told me that he hadn't let on because everybody gets so mad when he doesn't have them in so since he only had a couple he didn't want to stir ya'll up and have a feeding frenzy for the couple that he's got. These are not his exact words but I understand his concern completely after searching for a 36" extended length for the last week with no success if I find someone that says they sell them but won't have any in stock for months I'm just as unhappy as if I hadn't found them at all just look at some of the post that have been entered in this thread about how, when and why he orders them. Good luck to you guys who see this and call him, he aughta have an auction and sell to the highest bidder with as much trouble as he goes thru to get em and stockem.
Steve

 

[N80]

I think he ought to order a bunch of them, Cat I and II, and then post here what he has in inventory and sell them all very quickly. A brief how-to and list of benefits and a fitment guide along with the announcement and he could probably sell as many as he wanted.

 

[Hagar]

There are these somewhere here someone posted a link to bare-co

http://www.bare-co.com/files/hydraul2001/hy22.htm

assuming B8116 is the DPCV I was quoted

Price for B8116 x 2 = $144.00.
UPS ground = $12.00.
Total = $156.00.