Top & Tilt Questions

[gekog]

To achieve the 'tilt' part, do I need hydraulics on both arms? If not, will the hydraulics on just one of the arms allow for tilt in either direction? Last, if just one arm needs hydraulics, does it matter which one has the hydraulics?

thanks
gekog

 

[jtheise4]

No, you do not need hydraulics on both links. In fact, doing so will add undue stress to the 3PH.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Here are a few pictures of a "TnT" set. Normally the hydraulic side link is installed on the right side of the tractor and a lot of people will install the OEM adjustable link on the left. You would then set the hydraulic to be 1/2 extended and then match that position with the adjustable OEM link. With the lower arms being level you then will have equal ability to tilt both to the right and left sides.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

No, you do not need hydraulics on both links. In fact, doing so will add undue stress to the 3PH.

Why do you think that 2 hydraulic side links can create stress?

 

[Bird]

will the hydraulics on just one of the arms allow for tilt in either direction?

Yes, if you adjust everything so the hydraulic cylinder is halfway extended (or halfway retracted) when the two arms are level. That's what I, and others, have done.

 

[jtheise4]

Why do you think that 2 hydraulic side links can create stress?

Because I read this from CCM's FAQ on TnT:

Can I use 2 hydraulic sidelinks? We do not recommend use of 2 hydraulic sidelinks. If you are doing this so you can exert down pressure it is not a good idea to do this. Most 3-point systems are not designed for the added down pressure force and will prematurely fail and cause unsafe situations with the added down force.

 

[gekog]

Thanks for the answers. Can you tell me (about) how many degrees of angle I might expect from this setup?

gekog

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Because I read this from CCM's FAQ on TnT:

Can I use 2 hydraulic sidelinks? We do not recommend use of 2 hydraulic sidelinks. If you are doing this so you can exert down pressure it is not a good idea to do this. Most 3-point systems are not designed for the added down pressure force and will prematurely fail and cause unsafe situations with the added down force.

Well, I have to disagree with CCM. 3RRL has them on both his and his wife's tractors and has had no ill effects. Has had them for many years and hundreds of hours with no problems. Now I do not know if he uses them for down pressure, but I do know that he is able to get twice the angle that you would normally be able to get with just the normal 1 adjustable side link. If you were to build your own hydraulic side link in a manor to only allow tilt in one direction to get maximum tilt, you too could have down pressure exerted and only have 1 hydraulic side link. That may be more of a problem than having the 2 hydraulic side links in my opinion.

I think what CCM wants or is implying that you need to buy your hydraulic side link from them or you will end up with something that might cause a problem. They also push their hydraulics with the DPOCVs, say that if you don't have it now, you will at some time. They also say this

2. Why does CCM sell hydraulic toplinks with check valves? Safety first is the main reason. OSHA and the EU require piloted check valves as a safety on agricultural and industrial equipment when an object is lifted with a hydraulic cylinder and has no mechanical safety catch.

If this is true, then I guess about every tractor sold in the United States is breaking the law. I know that none of my tractors have them, and none of the tractors that I have ever seen at dealers or AG shows have ever had them. I guess that CCM knows something that no one else knows.

Don't get me wrong, CCM sells some great stuff, I have one of their tillers and it is great, but my thinking is that some of the stuff that they say is for merchandising purposes.

But then I may be all wrong, after all I only know what I read on the Internet.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Thanks for the answers. Can you tell me (about) how many degrees of angle I might expect from this setup?

gekog

Sorry for the bad pictures, but it is about 11 degrees in each direction. On my bigger tractor it was about 12 1/2 degrees.

 

[eepete]

Here's what I got with one CCM 4" cylinder. I could play with the manual adjustment and balance it out a bit, it's good enough for what I do.

And there is shot of the entire 3pt assembly with TnT.

Pete

 

[GuglioLS]

I agree with Brian and Like Rob (3RRL) (and many others) installed cylinders on both sides with no ill effects. IMHO it's a definite advantage having cylinders on both sides, especially when hooking up and disconnecting implements. Another advantage is the ability to equally raise or lower the overall TPH lift arm height, which effectively increases the overall range. The DPOCV comment or "quote?" being "required" on a top link could be technically correct? but never / seldom enforced? I defer judgment on that topic to the more well informed safety police. For the record I prefer not having a DPOCV on the top link mainly because I have a valve with a float position, that feature (for me) comes in real handy for mowing over hills and valleys. Of course others prefer and have the DPOCV for their own personal preference and applications. I prefer the freedom to choose which is best for you and your application. IMHO as long as your putting in the effort into adding hoses, fittings, valves and the like, why not go all the way? Cylinders are cheap.


Anyway here are some pics of my setup.....

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Larry, in one of your pictures, you have your 2 side link valves circled and marked one of a kind valves and yet they both look the same. Shouldn't you have said 2 of a kind valves or are they actually different? :laughing:

 

[GuglioLS]

Brian,

Okay wise guy - you got me on that one , actually they were a 4 of a kind deal I could not resist :thumbsup:. I've never seen any valves quite like it, except perhaps maybe on some carnival ride that's about to blow. Speaking of carnival rides, has anyone ever noticed the cylinders used on them? The ones I've seen do not have DPOCV's and they lift PEOPLE


Larry