Top link keeps unscrewing

Sniggle · Mar 3, 2008

My top link keeps unscrewing (lower implement), at a rate of several turns per 30 minutes. The toplink is the one that has a grease fitting, which I filled with grease (maybe a mistake). It has one nut close to the tractor body, but tighting this nut is ineffective as the toplink unscrews away from the nut. Seems is should have 2 nuts per side to lock it in position?

Anyone have this problem and have a solution?

Thanks

gordon21 · Mar 3, 2008

Low tech solution: bungee cord to tractor wrapped around the handles coming out at a 90 degree angle from the body.

mcnitt · Mar 3, 2008

I usually have the opposite problem: I have to really crank on them to get the ends in or out. Do you mean the body is rotating, which elongates the link? I can't imagine how that could happen, but it seems to me that a snugged up a nut on the other end is would keep it from turning. Good luck!

RickB · Mar 3, 2008

Sniggle said:
My top link keeps unscrewing (lower implement), at a rate of several turns per 30 minutes. The toplink is the one that has a grease fitting, which I filled with grease (maybe a mistake). It has one nut close to the tractor body, but tighting this nut is ineffective as the toplink unscrews away from the nut. Seems is should have 2 nuts per side to lock it in position?

Anyone have this problem and have a solution?

Thanks

Two nuts won't help as the opposite end has LH threads. Use a bigger wrench and get that nut TIGHT. Guaranteed effective.

ccsial · Mar 3, 2008

RickB said:
Two nuts won't help as the opposite end has LH threads. Use a bigger wrench and get that nut TIGHT. Guaranteed effective.

This is correct. You only need one nut but it has to be real tight to lock it.

Bird · Mar 3, 2008

Yep, as RickB said, that's what it takes. I kept a pretty good sized Crescent wrench in the toolbox on the tractor and that was its most common use.

easygo · Mar 4, 2008

"It has one nut close to the tractor body, but tighting this nut is ineffective"
It may just be me but it sounds like that nut should be on the side that is away from the tractor body. That way you have more room to put a wrench to it and will not scrape any knuckles. I too keep a wrench in the tool box along with a 10" spike that I use as leverage on the center part of the top link to help with the tightening/loosening.