Pat's and hydro top link- I'm convinced

[Mudfarmer]

I invested in some Pat's easy hitch attachments and a hydraulic top link this winter. Boy am I going to save on chiropractor bills! :thumbsup:
Mf

 

[Airedale]

I think you are probably right!

Al

 

[gwdixon]

I invested in some Pat's easy hitch attachments and a hydraulic top link this winter. Boy am I going to save on chiropractor bills! :thumbsup:
Mf

Very wise choice.

The only issue is that the Pat's extends the length of the lower arms and the hydraulic top link can be too short in certain circumstances even when fully extended.

It would be nice to have an easy way to lengthen the top link another 4 inches or so to compensate for the Pat's. Cutting off the cylinder's tractor-side mount and welding in an extension is an option. Haven't been brave enough to try it yet.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Very wise choice.

The only issue is that the Pat's extends the length of the lower arms and the hydraulic top link can be too short in certain circumstances even when fully extended.

It would be nice to have an easy way to lengthen the top link another 4 inches or so to compensate for the Pat's. Cutting off the cylinder's tractor-side mount and welding in an extension is an option. Haven't been brave enough to try it yet.

I am not sure about your model tractor but Pats made me a set for my Kioti that adds no length to the arms. Of course my arms were adjustable to begin with but if they can't you may try the ones on ebay that sit aboce the original hole in arm.

 

[jinman]

I invested in some Pat's easy hitch attachments and a hydraulic top link this winter. Boy am I going to save on chiropractor bills! :thumbsup:
Mf

Can you reach your remote lever from the rear of your tractor? When I go to hook up my toplink, I reach over my right fender and the lever is right there so I can extend or retract that toplink. No wrestlin' required. . .

 

[Mudfarmer]

The toplink valve is mounted on the right fender. It's easy to reach from the seat and from the rear when hooking up - I can hold the toplink in myleft hand and operate the control lever with my right without stretching. Glad my JD3005 has metal fenders to mount the valve.

Concerning extending the toplink: The Pat's do lengthen the lift arms by 2-3 inches. If that is a problem I will try the following solutions in numerical order: 1) Extend the top link witha hook at the implement end. 2) try the EBay quick hitches that sit on top of the lift arms - I bought a set of them to use on my Kubota B7100 (which doesn't have a hydrualic toplink) They're still in the shipping box, 3) get a toplink 3 inches longer (at about $200)

Mf

 

[gwdixon]

3) get a toplink 3 inches longer (at about $200)

Mf

If you have the ability to cut and weld then the solution I wrote about above would cost about $5 in materials. I'd use two 5" pieces of 1/2" x 2" steel bar and sandwich (overlap 1" on each end) the cut off tractor end. Like (from ball to cylinder) o-==-[ if you use your imagination a bit to visualize it.

A welding shop might charge an hour labor to do it for you.

 

[greg_g]

The only issue is that the Pat's extends the length of the lower arms and the hydraulic top link can be too short in certain circumstances even when fully extended.

Only in the case where an owner already has a (short) HTL before purchasing Pat's Easy Change system. It's actually most accurate if you first buy your PEC system. That's because HTLs can be purchased in a large variety of open/closed lengths. Measure the PEC device from pin center to hook center. That's the amount that PEC will extend your (non-adjustable) lift arms. Measure then the closed length of your current conventional toplink, eye to eye. Add the number you got from your first measurement. That's the closed length HTL you need. How far you want it to extend is up to you.

This works too if you've already got the PEC, but want to buy the right size HTL. But if it's the other way around AND your HTL doesn't have a sufficient extended length - the solution is to add some. Adding to the tractor end has already been suggested. Adding to the implement end can be done with a pair of steel bars drilled for pins at both ends.

//greg//