Toplink Toplink

[dropbear]

Here's an Australian version of the hydraulic toplink <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bareco.com.au/files/hydraul/hydraul2001/hy22.htm>http://www.bareco.com.au/files/hydraul/hydraul2001/hy22.htm</A>
looks like they only make cat 2 & 3, but still a very interesting site.
They also make and sell remote hydraulic kits for ford & MF tractors, to use the onboard hydraulics for other impliments.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mike. I don't think it really is an accumulator. I think it is only a fluid storage area. The picture of the square one looks like there may be either a breather or fill plug on the top. Maybe it is just a fill plug, but a square shape will not hold much pressure without distorting and becoming a round shape. If it was an accumulator the pressure in it would push the piston when the valve was turned and that is not how it is described to operate. The two sides of the cylinder have different volumes because of the rod and that is why fluid storage is required. There is no reason that the fluid storage area would need to be under pressure except maybe to fill the cylinder a little faster.

It looks like the more difficult thing to obtain would be the valve. The valve appears to have 3 connections, one for each end of the cylinder and one for the fluid storage. I would suspect that in the closed position all 3 connections are closed and in the open position all 3 are open. The valve would need to be able to withstand the pressure created from the weight of the 3pt implement and any shock loads. I would think this would need to be a high pressure valve.

Andy

 

[MikeFLA]

Andy,

I went to a shop that specializes in hydraulics and inquired about the accumulator. He said an accumulator would do what I am asking of it but he is not sure if what is on the "self contained hydraulic toplink" is an accumulator.

I am going to ask Craig to see if there is a part number and or manufacturer on the unit he has.

 

[Twanger]

You are correct that the valve is kinda funky. It has a somewhat sloppy weld job on the side of the valve that connects to the tank. The tank is a sealed box that does have a plug in the top.

 

[Drive4Fun]

A question for when this is being used with a quick-hitch:

When I drop one implement, then connect with another, I invariably have to adjust the length of the top link in order to hook up.

It seems that I would have to get off the tractor, open the valve, then manually push or pull the hydraulic top link to the correct length.

Is this correct?

 

[Twanger]

I don't necessarily think so. You could back into the implement open valve and compress the cylinder, or leave the implement on and lengthen the cylinder before you switch. I have manually opened and closed the cylinder and it is very easy to move.