HydrauLink- a self-contained air over hydraulic top link

[4x4sche]

This device is a standard hydraulic cylinder with a bypass valve to allow adjustment. The challenge the manufacturer faced was to try an make an "advantage" out of the necessity to have some air in the system to allow for the volume the rod displaces while retracted. I have no doubt that the designer would have preferred that the link lock solid when the valve is closed but to keep the design simple and a closed system, that is not possible.

So we have the supposed advantages of the "cushioning effect". This is hokum. A three point lift is designed to ride up and down even with a fixed top link... and can be raised and lowered using the lower arms. The undesirable effect of the "air cushion" is to add imprecision to setting the angle of the implement.

So those of you that believe that the air is there for a purpose that is intentional and beneficial have been misled by the marketing hype. It is there because the link would be hydraulically locked and could not be adjusted without it. It in fact detracts from the benefit of the device.

 

[Bedlam]

How would it be locked? It seems to me that the oil is just being moved from one side of the piston to the other.I believe that even closer to 100 percent oil could have the same effect.
the oil leaved one side of the piston ,goes through through and valve and is the on the other side of the seals.
Am I missing something here?

 

[SPYDERLK]

This device is a standard hydraulic cylinder with a bypass valve to allow adjustment. The challenge the manufacturer faced was to try an make an "advantage" out of the necessity to have some air in the system to allow for the volume the rod displaces while retracted. I have no doubt that the designer would have preferred that the link lock solid when the valve is closed but to keep the design simple and a closed system, that is not possible.

So we have the supposed advantages of the "cushioning effect". [[[ ]]] This is hokum. A three point lift is designed to ride up and down even with a fixed top link... and can be raised and lowered using the lower arms. The undesirable effect of the "air cushion" is to add imprecision to setting the angle of the implement.

So those of you that believe that the air is there for a purpose that is intentional and beneficial have been misled by the marketing hype. It is there because the link would be hydraulically locked and could not be adjusted without it. It in fact detracts from the benefit of the device.

How would it be locked? It seems to me that the oil is just being moved from one side of the piston to the other.I believe that even closer to 100 percent oil could have the same effect.
the oil leaved one side of the piston ,goes through through and valve and is the on the other side of the seals.
Am I missing something here?

... The internal volume of the cyl changes as it moves. The volume is the least when retracted because all of the rod is inside displacing fluid equivalent to its volume. A fully filled cyl is locked even if the ports are connected to one another thru an open line. If filled and sealed in the retracted position it can be extended with difficulty. You will be working against a vacuum in that case.
larry

 

[westbrooklawn]

Yeah, he was so busy answering operating things that were obvious from the 1st video that he had no time to see the omission of a key setup feature that adds value to the product.
larry

Spyder -

I have been waiting patiently for an answer... thanks for pointing this out. Since they have beens so quick and thorough in responding to other issues, I have given them the benefit of the doubt and assumed this issue simply slipped through the cracks.

 

[J_J]

Which side of the cyl has the air pocket, upper, lower, or both sides have an air pocket. The air pocket could be transferred to the other side, unless it is a sealed air pocket, like a bladder. If one section of the cyl had a different bore size, the fluid volume for both sides could be the same.

 

[HydrauLink]

Spyder -

I have been waiting patiently for an answer... thanks for pointing this out. Since they have beens so quick and thorough in responding to other issues, I have given them the benefit of the doubt and assumed this issue simply slipped through the cracks.

I guess your question was missed. Please restate so I can address it.

 

[HydrauLink]

...

So those of you that believe that the air is there for a purpose that is intentional and beneficial have been misled by the marketing hype. It is there because the link would be hydraulically locked and could not be adjusted without it. It in fact detracts from the benefit of the device.

I will try to address this without getting into a debate over the issue since that would be counterproductive. The video's posted on our website clearly show HL's capabilitities (especially the new videos), including some difficult box-blading (forks down) in solid ground. Look at HL in the video. You will clearly see that it's not sinking, drifting or 'cushioning' too much. In fact, you can barely see it moving. It does the job while adding benefits to the user. The proof is in the video.

The air is intentionally used to create the shock-absorbing and auto-adjusting features. If we removed that, it would simply be a rigid self-contained cylinder that does in fact work. We've done it. We field tested both designs and the current one was the superior product.

 

[westbrooklawn]

I guess your question was missed. Please restate so I can address it.

See post #160 which contains quotes for both of my earlier posts.

 

[HydrauLink]

Originally Posted by lilranch2001
once again negativity.....
I do not once remember anyone asking for this info....

I am sure as much as the vendor has bent over backwards for all of us in answering all these posts, that will be the next video

Quote:
Originally Posted by westbrooklawn
What is the fully extended length? With Pat's easy hitch, I need to run a 32" toplink. The ad mentions 19" to 23" center pin length... this is way too short and only gives a 4" adjustment?

Quote:
Originally Posted by HydrauLink
Sounds like you may be using a category 2 tractor... is that right?

Quote:
Originally Posted by westbrooklawn
No it is a cat 1... Kubota L3400. Pat's easy hitch adds length to your lower arms which puts your implement farther back... that's why I had to go with a longer toplink. [Note that this post was not answered.]

Yeah, he was so busy answering operating things that were obvious from the 1st video that he had no time to see the omission of a key setup feature that adds value to the product.
larry

Sorry for missing this. It's been a challenge trying to keep up with some of the questions. As I've stated before, please feel free to call us at any point to get answers to your questions. We'll be glad to help out. If you don't get us for any reason, leave a message. We will call you back.

As for westbrooklawn's question, HydrauLink has a 6" stroke as well as an additional 4" screw end for adjustments. It's max operating length is 28". Based on what you've told me about your quick hitch (needing 32"), I'm sorry to say that it sounds like this version of HydrauLink may not work for you.

 

[SPYDERLK]

As for westbrooklawn's question, HydrauLink has a 6" stroke as well as an additional 4" screw end for adjustments. It's max operating length is 28". Based on what you've told me about your quick hitch (needing 32"), I'm sorry to say that it sounds like this version of HydrauLink may not work for you.

Putting a longer screw end in it should be easy.
larry