Poor Man's Top-'N-Tilt?

[Bob_Trevithick]

Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

I was just wondering.. I'd love a TnT setup someday, but I have a lot of learning to do first, not to mention saving some more pennies.

In the meantime, is it important to keep the jam nut on the top link tight? If I left it loose, I could fairly easily just reach down or hop off and twist that top link handle a bit. If it's important that the jam nut be kept tight, then it means a wrench, bashed knuckles, etc.

For simply dirt scoop use, I wouldn't think the top link would unscrew on its own quickly enough to cause a problem. Of course I'd tighten up that jam nut when mowing or tilling, etc.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[forestcreature]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

i keep mine loose so i can reach back and adjust my cut angle on the blade or middle buster. [this is on a 4100].
i use the jam nut with the rear mower since that could be a real safety issue if something moved.

 

[Bird]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Bob, as to whether you need that jam nut tight, just experience will teach you when you do and when you don't, I guess./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif For some jobs, it's nice to leave it loose so you can easily adjust it from the seat, as you said. However, you'll probably find that if the jam nut is not tight, it will "adjust" itself too easily, so if you don't intend to make frequent changes in the adjustment, you'll probably want it tight.

 

[markcg2000]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Exactly what I do. I tighten it up for the mower, but leave it loose for the box-scraper and the scoop. Well, I did. I just added a hydraulic top-link <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=custom&Number=106013&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>see this message</A> and the main reason I wanted it was the scoop.

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

I don't have tnt either Bob and that's how I do it. I don't think I've ever tightened that nut.

 

[djradz]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Is that what that nut is for??? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Thought it was there just to get stuck in my mower top flex link. Nope, never use it ... except maybe once back in 1993 when I had days of back-blade leveling to do.

 

[gator]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Bob,
Never tighten mine either, usually adjust while in use from seat then snug it by hand to hold for a while.I also wear tight fitting leather gloves whenever I'm on my tractor as it helps avoid skinned knuckles.

 

[Bill_in_MI]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Bob,
Like the other guys have said, I do not always tighten mine either. But, I keep the screw threads lubed well and I do find that the link will "move" quite a bit depending what implement I have on and what I am doing with it. Has not got me trouble yet, but I do get out the wrenches when I have an adjustment that I want to have stay put.

 

[ewoss3]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Bob, if you are not welder challenged you could weld a small rod to the jam nut for instant snugging by hand, just keep it well lubed.

 

[duanet]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Remember the leveling link on the Fords? My 2N had one that had a crank on it and it could be easily operated from the seat. See <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/33-40600-treegetter2.jpg>http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/33-40600-treegetter2.jpg</A> for a picture of one. If something like that is available, maybe it could be adapted to a compact tractor leveling link and top link. It should be a lot less expensive than hydraulics.
Duane

 

[BMW]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

duanet,
Kubota's Grand L series has one exactly like that except orange. I didn't know there was any other kind. Part #TA120-39500 TractoSmart.com says that it costs $486.65 Yikes that can't be right, I'll have to check somewhere else.

Later
Mark

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

<font color=blue>... See http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/33-40600-treegetter2.jpg for a picture of one.</font color=blue>

Maybe my browser isn't rendering this picture correctly.. the very top of the picture begins with the ball end of the top link. I can't see the rest of the top link, and am not sure what crank is being refered to. Sorry to be dense! /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

 

[BMW]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

I think he was talking about the side link. He figures it could be adapted to use as a top link.

 

[duanet]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

Bob, the crank handle is on the right (looking at the picture) lift link. Unfortunately the crank is aligned with the link which makes it a little hard to see. From the seat it is easy to reach the crank and adjust the tilt a little. I was thinking if the top link had the same type of adjustment with a crank, the top link could be adjusted from the seat also. It was just a thought, and I haven't checked into it any further. BMW did come up with a replacement for an orange tractor for almost $500, but thought that was very high. I agree.
Duane

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

Re: Poor Man\'s Top-\'N-Tilt?

<font color=blue>...the crank handle is on the right (looking at the picture) lift link.</font color=blue>

Gotcha! Thanks.. now I understand. Seems like a good idea!

Bob