Hydraulic top link on 3-pt?

flatheads &amp; vacuum tu · Nov 2, 2020

I just picked up my first MM (a Jet Star), sold at auction, as-is and where-is. The top link is missing. I am thinking about installing a hydraulic top link, but have not used one before, and do not understand why they are not more frequently used. What are the disadvantages?

Whiskey Bent · Nov 2, 2020

I have wondered what also, my dad always used a cylinder for the top link. I dont think he even had a top link around.

gtractorfan · Nov 3, 2020

At the end of my firewood making career I came up with this. I thought about adding a cylinder top link but haven't so far. It
would be a great addition.

rrlund · Nov 3, 2020

Honestly, I have to think there must be some problem there that would come up or manufacturers would be sending them from the factory
with hydraulic links. I don't think I want to find out first hand what one of those problems might be by having something flop up and hit
me in the back of the head. Probably best not to try to outsmart the original engineers.

flatheads &amp; vacuum tu · Nov 3, 2020

I also suspected there might be a problem, which is why I submitted the post.
But sometimes these decisions are not made by engineers, but by the stingy bean-counters!
And the engineers put their pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else, and sometimes make mistakes, or copy the existing technology when they are afraid of change.
Please forgive my lack of reverence for the OEM, but before retiring to my little farm I did consulting engineering for almost everyone. My patents can be found in products from Ford, Toyota, Honda, CAT, Cummins, Deere, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, SpaceX, Virgin Orbit, US Army, US Air Force, and NASA, to name a few.
But my early education was from the "school of hard knocks", and I still respect the practical knowledge which comes from using the products. Sometimes the users know the product better than it's designers in many ways.

shaun wallace · Nov 3, 2020

Why dont they put them as new? Will need remote valve dedacated to cyl with load checks in both ends of cyl to stop drifting. Just how often does toplink get adjusted once installed with shredder,mold board
plow ,posthole auger, round bale mover and ect.

fdt860 · Nov 4, 2020

Hydraulic top link are factory installed in n premium European Tractors. I was just plowing this morning with a MF 7726 that had a factory one. An hydraulic three point link absolutely needs to have counterbalance valves to rvent injuries in case of hose rupture.

flatheads &amp; vacuum tu · Nov 4, 2020

When using plows, blades, etc. the top link should be loaded in compression, so a hose failure should result in rotation of the plow or blade up and out of the ground?
When carrying something (like ballast for traction) the top link should be loaded in tension, so hose failure should result in rotation of the load away from the tractor and into the ground?
What are the applications were hose rupture would be particularly hazardous?

J.Wondergem · Nov 4, 2020

I built one for my M5 when I built a set of 6 foot forks for picking up 6 foot round bales. If I remember right , I broke it and remade it and it worked good since. That had to be about 82 or 83, it's still in it.

fdt860 · Nov 5, 2020

(quoted from post at 11:00:19 11/04/20) When using plows, blades, etc. the top link should be loaded in compression, so a hose failure should result in rotation of the plow or blade up and out of the ground?
When carrying something (like ballast for traction) the top link should be loaded in tension, so hose failure should result in rotation of the load away from the tractor and into the ground?
What are the applications were hose rupture would be particularly hazardous?

Only time it will be hazardous is if you are under an equipment or load. This is always unsafe anyway.
If you are often under a tractor loader lifted up, then this is not an issue because tractor loaders don't have any safety equipment as well.

MJMJ · Nov 5, 2020

There are other downsides that aren't necessarily dangerous. When I'm moving round bales off the field, I'd rather have that weight bouncing on a solid top link, not a hydraulic cylinder. I'm sure it's mostly just a cost vs customer request thing, but 90% of the time I would prefer a regular old top link.

J.Wondergem · Nov 6, 2020

(quoted from post at 22:02:38 11/04/20)
I built one for my M5 when I built a set of 6 foot forks for picking up 6 foot round bales. If I remember right , I broke it and remade it and it worked good since. That had to be about 82 or 83, it's still in it.

Also I built a finger that hangs done at the base of the forks and operated with another cylinder to push the bale off when loading the trailer.

VicS · Nov 9, 2020

Have a hyd top link on a 50hp JD. Only
down side is don't have one on the other
tractors. Makes a 3 point truly a quick
coupler.

VicS · Nov 9, 2020

Oh mine has valves on cylinder that takes pressure to open. Doesn't creap. You can un hook hoses and use outlet for other things.

flatheads &amp; vacuum tu · Nov 9, 2020

Yes, I was planning to use pilot-operated-check-valves to prevent leakage, and if they are mounted directly on the cylinder they also prevent any excitement if a hose ruptures (other than the mess)

Hydraulic top link on 3-pt?

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