source for hydraulic top link?

[LD1]

I suppose you could probably do a rod and washer/tube type thing similar to how alot fo guys do a FEL level indicator????

 

[npalen]

Actually a known center position is needed from which the cylinder can go plus or minus. Example: A 4" stroke cylinder on the tilt would hopefully be "level" at 2" stroke.

 

[Jim Timber]

Actually a known center position is needed from which the cylinder can go plus or minus. Example: A 4" stroke cylinder on the tilt would hopefully be "level" at 2" stroke.

I see this thinking all over, but don't understand why it's an issue?

Does it really matter that you need to lower both sides the same? Where would this become a problem? Other than in theory, how is this an advantage?

If it is a problem, how come JD's are designed to bottom out at level? They only drop a link and don't raise higher than the fixed link.

 

[Fallon]

I love my toplink for mowing actually with my rotary cutter & flail. Leave it in float most of the time. But I can use it to pick the tail wheel off the ground a hair & back over a ditch I couldn't otherwise now. Also you can pick it up higher with the 3pt + toplink. For the flail I just leave it in float mostly. My flail doesn't have an adjustable roller, so I control height of cut with the 3pt & let float on the toplink keep the roller on the ground.

I have a quick hitch & with the top & side link I can hitch to any crookedly parked impliment without getting off the tractor.

The most important use is the box blade, especially with the jerky 3pt on the L3200. Extending or retracting the toplink makes the box barely start filling or emptying for just the right smooth finish when cleaning up the driveway. Or all the way forward to dig the scarifiers. Side links make it easy to set the crown.

 

[npalen]

I see this thinking all over, but don't understand why it's an issue?

Does it really matter that you need to lower both sides the same? Where would this become a problem? Other than in theory, how is this an advantage?

If it is a problem, how come JD's are designed to bottom out at level? They only drop a link and don't raise higher than the fixed link.

Say you're running a rear blade, for example, and playing with the TOP link cylinder to get just the cutting action you want. Then you want to angle the blade for some more grading work so you do and suddenly one side is digging in way too much because the TOP link hasn't been adjusted back to it's home position. You see this and start making adjustments on the fly but happen to go the wrong way gouging even deeper.
The home position indicator on the TOP link would let you re-level the blade side to side before angling and thus prevent the gouging. The home position indicator on the TILT link is valuable for the same obvious reason. You can certainly function without indicators on either top or tilt or, for that matter, without cylinders on either but it's just handy for OCD folks like myself.
I will say that the TILT indicator needs to be "re-homed" when changing implements due to slight variations in height of the lower connecting points.

 

[Jim Timber]

I'm not talking about indicators - I'm talking about the tilt cylinder lifting higher than the fixed link on the opposite side of the drag links. Deere doesn't do it, but some folks seem to think they should be able to lift the adjustable side as high as it can droop for an opposite cut.

The only situation I can envision where being able to drop both sides without flipping cylinder/link sides would be pulling a ditch up/down a hill and being able to drag material with or against gravity regardless of what orientation that happens to make the tractor.

 

[npalen]

pulling a ditch up/down a hill

That is a good example where being able to move the tilt cylinder up or down from a level position would be beneficial. If the blade was level only when the cylinder is at one end of the stroke the blade could only be tilted one way. We're saying it needs to be capable of tilting both ways either left or right, correct?
Wouldn't want to have to swap the tilt cylinder and the fixed link back and forth to pull a ditch each time the tractor travel direction is reversed. Maybe I'm missing something. Don't mean to be argumentative.

 

[Jim Timber]

I'm just asking. I don't know why you'd want to pull a ditch in one direction vs another. Is that even a need?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I would like to put a hydraulic top link on my ford 335 tractor but the quote for a 2 1/2" x 21-31" two-way cylinder with flow restrictors is out of my price range ($360) so wonder if anyone can point me to a less expensive option.....the ideal would be in or near SE Iowa to avoid shipping costs. any suggestions or references would be appreciated.

Ebay, surpluf hydraulics, your local Fleet store.

Just take note of the shortest your top link can go, the eyelet size and order in something that covers as short as your top link can go. Being too long isn't going to hurt so long as you're in the hunt, so to speak.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I'm just asking. I don't know why you'd want to pull a ditch in one direction vs another. Is that even a need?

Grading a road that has a ditch on one side only. Go down a mile and??? If you have a JD system you get to drive back that mile and go again. So now you have just traveled 50% further than needed.

Grading a road that has S turns, with the JD system you get to turn around at each turn and pull in the opposite direction, that's always fun.

Pulling an angle where the tractor only fits in one direction, backing into an area that needs to be pulled out with a slope, but the blade tilts the wrong direction. Oh, wait, all you need to do is switch the hydraulic side link from one side to the other. Yes, that is most certainly something that I want to have to do. No on second thought, screw it, it's good enough.

I could go on and on, hopefully you get the point now.

Another thing that JD has is one of their all hydraulic rear blades. Angling of the blade only works left, or right, but not both without changing the cylinder from one side to the other. Same goes for the offset, only offsets left or right, but not both with out switching the cylinder from one side to the other. :confused2:

Just another perfect example of someone designing something that they have never used and simply have no clue what so ever.

 

[npalen]

Another case of a picture (or two) being "worth a thousand words".
Hard to understand why Deere would design a "one-way".

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Another case of a picture (or two) being "worth a thousand words".
Hard to understand why Deere would design a "one-way".

Easier