Ratchet top link

[Professor Marvel]

Looking for a cat 1 ratchet top link. Thought I had seen them at the local tractor store but when I went to buy one I couldn't find any. I read about taking a ratchet binder or jack and welding ends on it but I just want to buy one. Can anyone direct me to them?
Thanks

 

[boggen]

google search "ratchet top link" without quotes
lots of places to buy from come back for me.
below image is from 3-POINT RATCHET JACK


after posting a few days ago, i have not ran across the chain binder style yet.
below image is from Towing Load Binders + Binder Chains | Trailers + Towing | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Professor Marvel]

That jack might work if the threads on my top link match the threads on the jack but with my luck I am pretty sure they wont

 

[countrybumpkin]

Here is a link to a cat 2 but you may contact them see if they have cat 1.

Ratchet Top Link (TL175)

 

[Professor Marvel]

that is what I need
I will try to contact them about a cat 1

 

[Xfaxman]

Let us know if you find one, I could use one on the Toolcat.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Unless the ends of that Cat II one are too big for the tractor or implements, couldn't you just use a bushing on each end to sleeve it down to fit Cat 1 pins? The length of it looks like it wouldn't be a problem, but I dunno.

 

[pmsmechanic]

google search "ratchet top link" without quotes
lots of places to buy from come back for me.
below image is from 3-POINT RATCHET JACK
View attachment 385871

after posting a few days ago, i have not ran across the chain binder style yet.
below image is from Towing Load Binders + Binder Chains | Trailers + Towing | Northern Tool + Equipment
View attachment 385870

Just buy a ratchet jack and weld category 1 ends onto it. I don't know where you can buy ends in the States but in Canada they are available from Princess Auto

 

[boggen]

alright i feel like a bigger fool than normal. when i posted pictures, i wasn't paying attention and grabbed U ends ratchet jack. but now that i go back and google the stuff up. i am barely getting any ratchet jacks, let alone the cat 1 or cat 2 ratchet jack top links with swivel ball ends. i had amazon, ebay, (grainger or harbor freight don't remember which), and at min 4 other places that were showing pictures of a complete assembly. to make it a cat 1 top link setup.

google search "replacement 3pt top link screw" to change out the U ends for cat 1 swivel ball ends.
Top Link End Cat 1 Thread L.H. Swivel End
Top Link End Cat 1 Thread R.H. Swivel End
Tractor Top Links, 3 Point Hitch Top Links, Cat 1 & 2 Hydraulic Top Links, Top Link Ends, 3 Point Hitch Parts

cut and welded notation
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/180100-almost-quick-hitch-ratchet-top.html


doesn't do ya much good from Australia
TOP LINK ASSEMBLY WITH RATCHET JACK ATTACHMENT | Top Agrispares

 

[Professor Marvel]

Ratchet Link Assembly with Double Ball End (Cat. 1) | S.15297 | Malpasonline.co.uk
here is one but I don't know what size cat 1 is in the uk plus I don't know how much it is in dollars. on top of that since it is made in the UK the threads are probably backwards

 

[countrybumpkin]

Unless the ends of that Cat II one are too big for the tractor or implements, couldn't you just use a bushing on each end to sleeve it down to fit Cat 1 pins? The length of it looks like it wouldn't be a problem, but I dunno.

This would be the simplest , if you don't find a cat 1.

 

[Xfaxman]

Unless the ends of that Cat II one are too big for the tractor or implements, couldn't you just use a bushing on each end to sleeve it down to fit Cat 1 pins? The length of it looks like it wouldn't be a problem, but I dunno.[/QUOTE]

This would be the simplest , if you don't find a cat 1.

The retracted length might be a problem on some attachments. Plus both ends have to be narrowed and any store bought bushings would have to be cut shorter also.

The cat 1 top link on our Toolcat adjusts from 20 to 29 inches. I think most tractor top links are shorter than that.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The retracted length might be a problem on some attachments. Plus both ends have to be narrowed and any store bought bushings would have to be cut shorter also.

The cat 1 top link on our Toolcat adjusts from 20 to 29 inches. I think most tractor top links are shorter than that.

View attachment 386019 View attachment 386018

I just noticed that the Cat 2 ratcheting toplink posted above has a min/max length of 25.75 - 32.75 inches. I think a typical Cat 1 toplink is 21 - 28 inches. So the Cat 2 one might be too long for some uses.

 

[boggen]

what is the harm of unscrewing the ends, and simply cutting the ends down, both the "ball ends" and the center pipe ratchet itself?

 

[Xfaxman]

what is the harm of unscrewing the ends, and simply cutting the ends down, both the "ball ends" and the center pipe ratchet itself?

Where are you going to cut the center pipe ratchet?

 

[boggen]

below oringal picture is from....Uniparts Group - Products - Aftermarket (Gripwel Fasteners) - Ratchet Jacks - Sub-Product
did a little bit of microsoft paint hack and slash of me scratching my head, wondering why you can't cut down the ends of everything to make shorter? (cutting at red lines)

 

[boggen]

Ratchet Jacks
getting closer this one based in canada, and better yet, the handle bends over 90 degrees to keep it from getting in the way of the PTO shaft.

 

[bumperm]

This seems like it would be an easier solution, and would make top link adjustments quicker too:

HYDRAULINK CATEGORY 1 TOPLINK

A bit pricey at $185, but less than a "full on" top and tilt (which I recently finished installing on my tractor).

bumper

 

[Xfaxman]

below oringal picture is from....Uniparts Group - Products - Aftermarket (Gripwel Fasteners) - Ratchet Jacks - Sub-Product
did a little bit of microsoft paint hack and slash of me scratching my head, wondering why you can't cut down the ends of everything to make shorter? (cutting at red lines)
View attachment 386213

Typically the threads in the center section are only 1 inch long, so that won't work. :thumbdown:

And the ends need to be top link ball ends.

 

[Xfaxman]

Ratchet Jacks
getting closer this one based in canada, and better yet, the handle bends over 90 degrees to keep it from getting in the way of the PTO shaft.

‘Yep, closer, length is right but the ball end has a 1 inch hole, so it would need a bushing to 3/4 inch.