Question - Which TYPE of Valve to order for a Hydraulic Top Link

[Amos22]

The Detent (non self-canceling) or the Float Dent Valve?

I'm not new to tractors, but am a green-horn when it comes to remote hydraulics.

Thanks for any help!

 

[TripleR]

You are going to get differing opinions; some like the float and some don't. I am not a total green horn as I am on my second hydraulic top-link, but others have a lot more experience than I. I don't have float on mine and it works great, but if I ever used one, I might change my mind.

Maybe we can both learn something.

 

[oldnslo]

The Detent (non self-canceling) or the Float Dent Valve?

I'm not new to tractors, but am a green-horn when it comes to remote hydraulics.

Thanks for any help!

A Detented valve stays locked in a given position. This is typically used for the "float" function.

You would not want a detented valve that stays locked extending your top link. Some Ag tractors have this feature for running hydraulic motors.

Roy

 

[gwdixon]

Can't say what the advantage would be with a "float" on the top link or when it might be necessary.

Maybe when hooking up the top link to an implement it may be able to be moved back and forth to line up the holes. Not having a float on either my top or tilt I can't really say. Usually the implement will wiggle just a bit and if the top link was approximately lined up then the pin can be put through rather easily.

My third valve is a float but the "float" has never been used. They are made for a reason - just can't think of one right now. Someone will come up with something and then it will be used if it is an advantage.

>Perhaps when discing with a 3PH disc it would move over mounds and depressions and allow the disc to remain level.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Some people use float on their hydraulic top link to make it easier to hook up. I have never needed it for that myself, but there are guys that always use that function when attaching their implements. I highly recommend having the float function for hydraulic side links. This can make a huge difference when finish grading-smoothing in certain circumstances. An example is when a road-drive comes to a T or Y intersection and the camber in the roads do not match. You can put the side link in float mode and the transition between cambers will be smooth as can be.

Just my :2cents: worth of input.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

A Detented valve stays locked in a given position. This is typically used for the "float" function.

You would not want a detented valve that stays locked extending your top link. Some Ag tractors have this feature for running hydraulic motors.

Roy

Actually if you have a self canceling detent, the detent will run a hydraulic motor or when using it with a hydraulic cylinder it will automatically kick out of the detent when the cylinder reaches the end of it's stroke. Pretty cool actually.

 

[94BULLITT]

I don't think there are very many uses for a float on a top link. If you were getting a hydraulic side link a float would be nice.

 

[rswyan]

Some people use float on their hydraulic top link to make it easier to hook up. I have never needed it for that myself, but there are guys that always use that function when attaching their implements. I highly recommend having the float function for hydraulic side links. This can make a huge difference when finish grading-smoothing in certain circumstances. An example is when a road-drive comes to a T or Y intersection and the camber in the roads do not match. You can put the side link in float mode and the transition between cambers will be smooth as can be.

Brian,

Great tip - thanks for adding the specifics ! (of where it might be useful)

 

[crazyangel]

I have two remotes on my tractor and decided to get one standard detent, and one with the float. It is really handy to be able to swap between the two on my top and tilt. I use the float on my top link when bush hogging, and switch it to my side link like MtnViewRanch noted for grading. Best of both worlds for me! :cool2: