Securing hydraulic Top Link

[boomer632]

What do you guys do with your hydraulic top link when you have nothing attached to 3pt? Looking for some ideas that dont involve removing the top link. There is a hook on the tractor now that I use to hold the top link up and out of the way. Obviously, the hook wont fit a 2" hydraulic cylinder..

 

[JB4310]

What do you guys do with your hydraulic top link when you have nothing attached to 3pt? Looking for some ideas that dont involve removing the top link. There is a hook on the tractor now that I use to hold the top link up and out of the way. Obviously, the hook wont fit a 2" hydraulic cylinder..

I have a quick hitch that never comes off, so I don't have that problem.

I guess you will have to customize the hook, or just take the HTL off for longer periods with nothing on the 3 pt.

JB

 

[teg]

I use a heavy wire from a clothes dryer that I use to wrap around a cross tube. I've also bent the hook out a bit so it would hold the toplink **temporarily**... since it isn't long enough to hold it tight while you are driving around.

 

[Code54]

I have one of the adj. rubber straps (bungee) - the kind that has the holes punched in it for hooks the entire length and not just one the end. Used my factory "top link hook", put the first hole in the adj on the hook, then around the hydro cal, then pick a nice tight fitting hole in the adj. area of the bungee and slipped it over the hook. Basically just a loop of rubber from my factory hook around the cyl. and back. Keeps it from bouncing around and holds it good and tight.
The bungee is sold at Home Depot for about $4
Good luck

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I was able to modify both of my OEM top link holders to work. On the red tractor all that I did was twist the hook 90* and it hooks perfectly on the hydraulic port. On the blue tractor all I did was heat up and widen the hook to accept the 3" cylinder.

 

[Leejohn]

This is how I did it. This was made as a temp, but has worked so good I never changed it.

 

[teg]

For the few times I need to tie it up... this works for me.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Boomer, I think that you might be able to just twist your OEM hook retainer 90* and hook on to the hydraulic port as I have done on my red tractor.

One of those things of you won't know for sure until you have it on the tractor.

 

[MHarryE]

I have a light chain for the few times mine isn't used and have some 3/16 rod to make my own but amfter reading about the bungee I will probably look at that. The steel hook might catch on something.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Does the OEM hook catch on anything? Not that a flexible strap does not work, it does and will. When you have the top link hooked with a hook like the OEM hooks, the cylinder does not move. I have had zero problems with either tractor going on 7 years with the blue tractor. About 800 hours of use between the 2.