Need help with TSC middle buster plow top link pin diameter

gwdixon · May 15, 2011

pyro6988 said:
Sorry for the confusion. I have a normal Cat 1 top link and my box blade and tiller use standard Cat 1 top link pins so 3/4" in diameter.

The top link hole on the hole of the plow is 7/8" maybe more like 15/16".

Just let it rattle around with the standard 3/4" pin. It won't hurt anything and the tension on the business end will keep the pin fairly tight.

Another alternative is to ream out (drill or torch or plasma cut) the top mount and weld in a Cat 1 to Cat 2 bushing. I did that to modify some of my Cat 1 implements to Cat 2 (except a Cat 2 to Cat 3 bushing was used of course).

After you weld one side you can hacksaw off the extra bushing length and use it on the other side. Cost is less than $2 if my memory is working.

It is probably not worth the effort and using it as is will be fine.

von-mil · May 16, 2011

CountyLine must have manufactured the plow according to some incorrect specs. They claim it meets Cat 1 standards and they have the correct 7/8" lift pins but a top-link hole of somewhere between 7/8" and 15/16" is just plain wrong. It would take a pretty unusual bushing - two of them actually - to correct the situation.

LD1 · May 16, 2011

Yep, if it is indeed a 7/8" hole, that is incorrect.

Personally, I would just use as is. It would take years of use for it to waller out and become an issue. And being a little sloppy only makes it easier to hook up. And if you are really worried, do as others have suggested and use bushings.

You can either make a correct sized bushing, or make the hole the correct size for a catI-catII bushing.

phillg · Apr 13, 2013

This problem is still not fixed. I just came back from TSC. I was going to buy a potato plow. The cat 1 pin went completely through the top link hole and a cat 2 pin would not fit into them. They had 5 of them. The sales associate told me he wouldn't buy one either. I drove an hour to go to the store. I am debating on driving to the other 2 stores that are an hour round trip as well.

Baby Grand · Apr 13, 2013

Yep, the top link holes on my big, yeller, TSC FarmFarce (CountyLine?, KK?) subsoiler are a bit oversized, but it still works fine, as-is. Here it is, wearing a tater blade:

von-mil · Apr 14, 2013

I found some bushings that corrected this problem.

Fastenal
SF-2428-12 3/4"IDx7/8"OD Powder Metal Bronze Flange Bearing | Fastenal

or

Amazon
Bunting Bearings DPEF121412 3/4" Bore x 7/8" OD x 3/4" Length 1 1/8" Flange OD x 1/8" Flange Thickness Powdered Metal Dri Plane (C) Flange Bearings: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Fossil Farm · Apr 14, 2013

Hitch pin with washers on each end through the middlebuster top link hole.

LD1 · Apr 14, 2013

Fossil Farm said:
Hitch pin with washers on each end through the middlebuster top link hole.

That still won't fix the issue with the wrong sized hole. Either they meant to drill the tl hole a full 1/8" over, or this is a big mistake made by qc

6011Artist · Apr 14, 2013

I have the diagram in front of me for the different size hitches and pin sizes. Top link for a category 1 is 3/4 inch, category 2 is 1 inch. If the lower link pins are 7/8 inch (correct for category 1 implements) and the toplink hole is bigger than 3/4 inch, I'd say someone at the factory is messing up. I'd take it back and get one with the proper holes or enough refund to remake that one into the right size. I don't like sloppy fitting pins and it would drive me crazy.

If they give enough refund to fix it you might could change one of the eyebolts on another top link to fit your current mis-matched holes. But then that top link would be good for that particular implement only. Not sure if the bolt sizes are the same for toplinks in the 2 different sizes...just a thought.