Proper use of a top link adapter

   / Proper use of a top link adapter #1  

Fastball

Silver Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Messages
179
Location
North Okanagan, British Columbia
Tractor
Kubota L2900
I recently picked up a quick hitch - and of course, one or two of my older implements aren稚 QH friendly. So i have rigged up a floating top link adapter to get them attached. Now I have read that the purpose is to let the implement follow the contours of the ground more closely...like in my mower or rake. However, I have been told NOT to use a floating link on my rear blade for snow removal, etc. I do not understand how this is a different application than a mower or rake.
Can an expert please instruct me in what is a proper use of a floating top link adapter?
Thanks..
 
   / Proper use of a top link adapter #2  
The only floating top link that I know about is just a chain. It runs a bit slack most of the time to allow the implement to follow contours but is short enough to possibly allow a little bit of lift when the 3ph bars are raised.

My 2 bush hogs have had a floating system built into their mechanism. You set the top link to where the floater indicator is at mid point when the bush hog is on a level area and at its proper height. The bottom links have to be such that the top link never is longer than the lift arms. There are usually at least 2 points to place the lift pins to achieve this. Otherwise, the bush hog will be driven into the ground when you lift the unit. I learned this because my 1st bush hog pins were set wrongly.

I'm not sure what finish mowers have as a floating top link system, probably something similar to the bush hogs. Know nothing about a rake.

Ralph
 
   / Proper use of a top link adapter #3  
I have float on the valve for my hydraulic toplink. I always leave it in float when I'm mowing with my frail mower or former rotary cutter.

I use float a lot to level things out when hitching & unhitching. But that's only briefly. I love the hydraulic toplink for grading with the box blade or LPGS, but float really isnt useful for operation of them.

I didnt find float useful when I had a 3pt grader blade. It kind of fought with the fact a 3pt doesnt have downpressure. It would fold up like a taco a lot.
 
   / Proper use of a top link adapter #4  
Never seen or heard of using a floating top link on anything but a mower. I just modified all my other implements to accept the quick hitch hook. I use the adapter on my finish mower. My brush cutter has a slotted top pin hole instead of pivoting linkage. Still working on the best hook up for it. Last time I set the hook in a different hole and just used one pin so it could wobble.
 
 

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