Top and Tilt

Anonymous Poster · Apr 16, 2003

If you don't have a use already in mind for the top & tilt, don't waste money on it. Here are my reasons:

1. Won't be needed/ almost in the way when you have the backhoe on.

2. I've been running tractors for 35 years, and only heard of the 'tilt' part on this forum a month ago. While a nice feature for certain grading operations, there is a crank on the 3-point arm & it won't kill you to use the crank, esp if you've never had a top & tilt. The 'top' part is real handy for pallet forks - otherwise, again your upper arm is adjustable by turning, and not too many implements benifit from being able to do this 'on the fly'. You set it & forget it until you put the next implement on. You can pick up extra top links for $25 from the farm supply store & have one for each implement cheaper than a top & tilt.

3. Should you find you absoultely can't live without top & tilt in the future, it's pretty easy to add _provided_ you have the hydraulic ports on your tractor. Anyone can intall this, it's only 2 pins, swap in the cylinder(s) for the top link & vertical lift arm & plug in the hyd hoses - no more complicated than hooking up a 3-point implement. You aren't out anything or wasting effort by adding this item later.

4. I do think it's a great idea to have the hyd port on your tractor from the beginning. If you really want both Top & Tilt, then you will need 2 sets of ports, or an expensive & less convienient port multiplier added. If you install Top & Tilt & then want to use hyd on anything else you pull, you would need a third set of ports (or the multiplier). I think this really gets expensive for very diminishing returns....

5. Yup like anything, if a person gets used to it it's a nice deal, so no harm to those who have it & like it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Just from your explination, I think you can use the money for more useful stuff now, and always add this later should you find you really need/want it.

--->Paul

Anonymous Poster · Apr 17, 2003

When I purchased by TC 24D I had the TNT installed at that time. I had ordered it with a 54-inch box scraper. My dealer told me it would be a good idea to have since I was rebuilding and in many cases building terraces. I always wanted the TNT option since I first rented A John Deere?? It did not have the TNT and all I could really do was move dirt around. If the area was not level grade than it was at least smooth. I cannot tell you how much this option has added to the functionality of the tractor. I really do not see how the work could be done without it. Not only do I use the TNT for the box scraper, I also use it to level my tank sprayer when on a grade or use it to line up attachments.
I do wish that I had 3 cylinders instead of the two since I often find a need to tilt in the other direction. But I can always unbolt the cylinder and move it to the other side.
My dealer went the expensive route by using only one remote and a multiplier. He is a heavy construction dealer and hydraulics to him is an everyday thing.

Hope this helps I will try to post some pictures of the setup soon.

George

Anonymous Poster · Apr 17, 2003

rambler: Nice post - use the crank adjustments! Just heard Kubota coming out with digital dashboard maps on its L and B series next year. After all, how could anyone find their way back to tha barn after mowing without one? (just kidding). JEH

Anonymous Poster · Apr 17, 2003

As I said, certainly to each their own! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Only my opinion.

I've never used a box blade, I find my regular rear blade more versitle. It's pretty easy to level loose ground by angling the blade & driving around a little, or to build a bermed road bed by angling the blade & tilting it a bit & driving a few rounds on the gravel. No need for multiple adjustments.

Since I don't have T&T, I don't miss it - would not be tilting very often at all for sure. I can see the value of a top link at times. But with finite resources, I can think of better things to spend money on, since one is always able to make these adjustments without T&T.

--->Paul

Mosey · Apr 17, 2003

I would certainly agree that if you can afford TNT or a FEL but not both, then put the money toward the FEL. Otherwise, I use the Top part of the TNT all the time, even with a mower attached. I just got the Tilt part, so I can't say yet how much I'll use it. The crank works good, but with with a heavy attachment like the tiller I had to let the attachment down to get the weight off the lift arms before I could adjust it. With the cylinder, I'll be able to do it from the tractor with the attachment lifted. I'm going to be adding some fill to the sides of my driveway and need to taper it so the water will run away from the driveway. I expect the tilt to come in handy there.

djradz · Apr 17, 2003

I've got to agree. In fact I'll state it more bluntly.
Top, nice feature, except when lining up implements for attachement on a larger tractor. Not sure on a 24D. But on my 40D, after connecting an implement to the lower 3-pt pins, I'd have to walk around to the side of the tractor to the TNT Top adjustment lever and keep going back and forth doing this till I got it adjusted so the top link lines up with the implement. Now I just turn the crank on the manual link. Yes, I know there's all sorts of other positive aspects of the Top TNT feature, but the downside, besides the cost, have prompted me so far to defer teh expense. As I said, nice to have.

Tilt of TNT, for most folks, completely unnecessary, unless your spending a significant amount of time grading or ditch-cutting, or some other task where you need an implement unlevel. In 25 years of CUT usage, I can't think of more than 3 times where I would have used it. In those cases, the manually adjustable link worked just fine.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif As I said, I was gonna be blunt - I'm just in that mood.

bmac · Apr 17, 2003

Rambler,
Thanks for your response. It is certainly valuable to me to get feedback from experienced folks like you. Just a couple of comments.

 almost in the way when you have the backhoe on.

As I plan to get a bh, this would be an significant drawback of TnT.

 it won't kill you to use the crank, esp if you've never had a top & tilt. 

The 24D does not have a crank. Instead, adjustments are made with a turnbuckle. Of course, making adjustments with a turnbuckle won't kill me either. The point for me is ease of operation. It doesn't kill me to keep a foot on the accelerator while driving on the interstate, but I prefer to use cruise control. It makes driving more pleasureable for me. I would look at TnT in a similar way. Hey, I'm lazy /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 Should you find you absoultely can't live without top & tilt in the future, it's pretty easy to add _provided_ you have the hydraulic ports on your tractor. 

 I do think it's a great idea to have the hyd port on your tractor from the beginning. 

I think at this point (as I don't know if I would have the occassion to use the TnT), this may be where I go. Just get the remotes and leave it at that for awhile.

bmac · Apr 17, 2003

George,
Thank you, I would like to see your pics if you have time to post them. Sounds like I can put you squarely in the pro-TnT camp.

Bruce

bmac · Apr 17, 2003

Danny,
Adding TnT would not be as a substitute for any other attachment at this time. Rather, as the icing on the cake. The problem is my dealer has not done this on a 24D and apparently isn't enthusiastic about tracking down the appropriate cylinders to make it work.

I'll add you to the pro-TnT camp as well.

Thanks,

Bruce