Author	[Modern View]
copper lincoln 10-18-2012 17:08:42 74.235.29.162 Report to Moderator	The top-link hook on my JD 4030 is useless to me and my 3 pt round bale hay spear equipment which is Cat 1/ hitch pin hook-up style at the 3rd point. Any ideas on a homemade way to convert that hook to something that will accept the 3rd point hitch pin? I've tried a few things but nothing that the hook will keep ahold of so far. Thanks. [Reply]   [No Email]
4020_1966 10-19-2012 15:20:36 184.20.210.10 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   The off the shelf TSC top links will not fit at least a 4020 and I am sure it will not go into the tractor side bracket on a 4030. 20 minutes of work and I was done. His only other option is to replace the hook end with something like the one on a 2010. They didn't have hooks, it was a closed loop similar to what I am using now. They have common thread size and direction, it is a pain to unscrew the end and back into your toplink. The tractor end again will not fit on the tractor unless you use the bottom end from the 4020/4030 toplink. Complete fabrication is to much work I agree. Get something like what I have and be done with it or try to find a closed loop end that matches thread and size. I tried that path and it is a bugger. [Reply]  [No Email]
donjr 10-19-2012 05:45:57 72.71.177.74 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   For the time you'll spend making something, you can get one from TSC awhole lot cheaper. Or go to a few sales. Most folks around here ususally had 2 or 3. [Reply]  [No Email]
4020_1966 10-18-2012 23:26:01 184.20.210.10 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   In the first picture you can see the "trimming" I did with the angle grinder, nothing significant. In the second picture you can see the top link end on the plow, as you can see there is not enough room for the traditional ball and hook end. Cooper you will need a cat 1-2 toplink bushing and a 7/8 bit to bore the tractor end out, not hard work. Hope this helps. I dont think it was an issue of an operators manual guys, just poor choice in wording that confused some. I know what was meant as I have dealt this the exact same issue. This post was edited by 4020_1966 at 23:26:40 10/18/12. [Reply]  [No Email]
4020_1966 10-18-2012 23:06:28 184.20.210.10 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   The problem he is having is most likely that the ball and hook will not fit on the spike. Our old 3bottom plow has this problem. You can not use the standard 4020 style ball and hook toplink. To combat this problem I recent got this toplink and use is on the 4020. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=271000341453&view=all&tid=972724758017 The tractor end needed a little trimming with a grinder (slightly to wide for the 4020) and I had my father in law put it on the drill press to clean up the tractor side pin hole and enlarge it to the 7/8" the 4020 toplink pin is. I could have left it 3/4 and a smaller pin but I rather use the proper pin. It works great, it didn't cost much and I think its a well enough made item. It wont ever replace my factory toplink for other things, just the plow. [Reply]  [No Email]
The Mayor 10-18-2012 19:05:09 107.45.155.20 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   Why not replace the top link with a short piece of chain with a couple of bolts. It doesn’t have to transfer, just has to carry. [Reply]  [No Email]
sideconsole4020guy 10-18-2012 19:22:00 216.249.194.192 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to The Mayor, 10-18-2012 19:05:09   Or it could be done right by buying a top link ball and obvisiouly the owner needs a owners manual as well so as to know how to correctly use the tractor [Reply]  [No Email]
Wilamayb 10-18-2012 17:45:15 66.168.153.148 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   It sounds like you need the ball that the hook recieves. You can get them at any local farm supply such as TSC, Rural King, CO-OP, etc... Sounds like you might need to visit your local Deere dealer to purchase and operator's manual also... [Reply]  [No Email]
LarrySTN 10-18-2012 17:27:22 71.54.88.168 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   You need a ball to use with the hook...#9 in the picture F2680R for cat 1 pin or F2681R for catagory 2 pin. [Reply]  [No Email]
LonM 10-18-2012 17:16:01 69.165.30.214 Report to Moderator	Re: 4030 Top Link Hook in reply to copper lincoln, 10-18-2012 17:08:42   Forgive me if i misunderstand what you are asking but don't you have the ball that slips over the top 3-point pin that the hook latches to? [Reply]  [No Email]