Leveling Top and Tilt

paccorti · May 24, 2001

All you top and tilt owners,

I'm curious, how do you know when your implement is level (not tilted side to side)? It's probably not a big deal but when rotary cutting I like the cutter to be level with the rear wheels. Since with hydraulic tilt it is so easy to tilt the three point (or leakdown) you might find yourself re-leveling it frequently. With my manual 3 pt tilt, I know I can level my 3pt and it will stay that way forever. I guess you just eyeball it...

Signed - still wanting top and tilt,

Peter

Bird · May 24, 2001

Peter, that actually is a bit of a problem for me. If the implement is raised, I can't look at the top of it behind me and tell whether it's tilted to one side or not. I'd have to get off and look at it from the side or behind. However, if I lower the implement to barely touch, or just nearly touch, the ground, then I can used the side tilt lever to level it (assuming the ground is level at that point).

Bird

Branch · May 25, 2001

I do the same as Bird. I park mine on a level floor and as I lower the scraper each night I make sure it's square to the floor. That way I know when I use it the next time that at least I'm starting out perfectly level.

Branch

allmobile · May 25, 2001

I have installed many top & tilt set-ups and I always put the manually adjustable link on the left side and adjust it so the implement is level when the tilt cyl. is collapsed. This doesn't work of course if you really need to be able to tilt both directions.

Brian

RobertN · May 25, 2001

I do the same thing that Branch does, which in turn is what Bird does /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

There's spots on my property that I know are level. Before I start doin something, I lower the implement on one of those spots, and check/adjust levels.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

Bird · May 25, 2001

Brian, I agree./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Because I had mine adjusted so that it was level when the tilt cylinder was centered. I figured that way I could tilt it easily either direction. However, since I only rarely tilt it, but do change the top link frequently, I just decided yesterday that having it level with the tilt cylinder collapsed was the way to go, both because that enables me to lift implements higher, and I've been known to accidentally move the wrong lever and change the tilt by mistake./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

Anonymous Poster · May 26, 2001

Ja, when I be brush hoggin' too you betcha I know that if I am plowin a furrow that I'm not levelin the hog too good. Actually I have had more trouble keeping a level brush hog than manipulating any other implement. I have probably dome more plowing with a brush hog than anyone. What I have developed is:

1. while stationary, adjust tilt
2. lower 3ph until at least one front corner hits the ground
3. do both corners hit ground at same time?
4. if yes,goto line 6
5. if no, goto line 1
6. raise 3ph to cutting position and go for it

(with apologies to any structured programmer)

Rowski · May 27, 2001

I've wonder about this too! I was going to insatll a T-n-T system on the NH2120 this summer but had to spend some of that money and MORE on some remodeling of the house. Got the news the stork is bringing me a package in late October. I was thinking of hooking up something similar to the loader level indicator, the ones with the rod inside a hollow tube. Thinking of even doing it to my manual tilt adjustment. I'm pretty sure something like this or similar would work. Anybody have any thoughts?

Derek

Bird · May 27, 2001

<font color=blue>I was thinking of hooking up something similar to the loader level indicator, the ones with the rod inside a hollow tube.</font color=blue>

Derek, my first impression . . . good idea. But now I'm still sitting here scratching my head trying to think of what in the world would you attach it to./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

And congratulations on the new addition.

Bird

paccorti · May 28, 2001

Well I guess this wasn't a dumb question!

I had one idea for an indicator... how about something like a bicycle brake cable. Mount the cable to the moving portion of the tilt cylinder. In theory you could run it right to the dash and connect it to some needle indicator which displays tilt.

I guess you could also use a linear potentiometer or a linear optical encoder.

Peter

Rowski · May 29, 2001

<font color=blue>But now I'm still sitting here scratching my head trying to think of what in the world would you attach it to.</font color=blue>

I knew this question was coming! Attached is a rough sketch of the load level type. It is basically a stick figure. Now you know why I want a CAD program. The "T" bracket gets attached to the tilt cylinder with to hose clamps. The bracket on the bottom of the rod get mounted to the lower pin area, either with a hole on the pin or directly to cylinder piston end or to the lower arm its self. My sketch just shows the idea. I have thought about Peter's idea about a cable (throttle, transmission down shift cable, bicycle cable). The only slight difficulty I see with the cable is the amount travel the piston has. I'm sure there must be a way to do the cable idea. I personally like the cable idea because I have a cab on my tractor.

Thanks, "it" is not here yet, thankfully, I still got a lot of work to do!

Derek

WVBill · May 29, 2001

I haven't tried it, but I wonder if a Tiltmeter, attached to the implement and visible from the tractor seat would work. (?)

Bird · May 29, 2001

A tiltmeter, or just a simple bubble level, might be the easiest way to go. Of course, you'd need one for each implement unless you designed a "quick attach" bracket of some kind. And then I'd probably find a way to break it, if it were attached to the implement./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

Harv · May 29, 2001

I think a tiltmeter is a viable solution for you flatlanders, but us hill folk would probably be better off knowing when the implement is parallel with the ground, or at least the same angle as the tractor itself. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Bird · May 29, 2001

Harv, if you put a tiltmeter on your implement, then you just need to look at it and compare it to the one on the tractor. If they read the same, it ought to be level with the tractor./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

markcg2000 · May 29, 2001

Goodness, Bird, have you forgotten the "Chalkley Cup" already?? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Mount a tilt meter on a magnet; move the assembly to the implement in question. Incidently, this is just as important for we TNT wanna-be's /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif. But I agree that a separate tilt-meter would be required for the tractor - need to know if the implement is plumb with the tractor, not actually level, right?

mark

Bird · May 29, 2001

Very good, Mark./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif That'll work.

Bird

gordon · May 29, 2001

Derek is that your new cad/program, hope it's freeware!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Seriously that is a great idea. The simple ones are the most difficult to think up but they sure do work the best.

Congrats on the new addition!!!!!!!!!!!
Just remember no baby seat on the tractor./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon

GlueGuy · May 30, 2001

Peter,

I try not to get **** about it. My Tilt cylinder has a 4" stroke, and I've measured the amount of exposed cylinder when the mower is sitting flat on concrete. Sure enough, it's 2" of exposed cylinder. So I just "eyeball" the exposed part of the cylinder. If it looks like 2", then I go. Has worked real so far. Of course, I have about the lowest standards of anyone I know for mowing.

The GlueGuy

Harv · May 30, 2001

Bird -

I thought about the meter comparison approach, but can't decide if I should go with the extra set of eyes on the back of my head, or just upgrade the bearings in my neck so it swivels better. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif