3-Point Hitch Need advice on top link height with finishing mower

[old and tired]

I don't attach the top link... I never need to lift the whole mower off the ground. The rare time I do hit a rock, raising the 3ph is enough to clear the rock (running only on the two rear tires of the mower). I flex too much in my ditches and over berms.

 

[3gunr]

IMnot sure but it looks like your tractor has draft control and could possibly be raised up, lifting the toplink up,

 

[3gunr]

My old 6 ft finish mower has chains and a fixed top link pin to the implement has worked great for 15 yrs,

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

My old 6 ft finish mower has chains and a fixed top link pin to the implement has worked great for 15 yrs,

Someone else stated that and I’m looking in to that. Thank you so much.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

IMnot sure but it looks like your tractor has draft control and could possibly be raised up, lifting the toplink up,

I’ll check my draft control as well, thank you.

 

[TractorGuy]

Is it possible to bolt the rear of the long arms to the hole in the rear of the bracket on the back of the deck? It looks there are two bolt holes n that bracket. If so, I think it would tilt everything to the rear and have the affect of giving you more space at the pto shaft.

If he does that he will need to move the support arms to the inside. The angle and bend won't allow them to get to the rear holes on the outside as they are.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

I don't attach the top link... I never need to lift the whole mower off the ground. The rare time I do hit a rock, raising the 3ph is enough to clear the rock (running only on the two rear tires of the mower). I flex too much in my ditches and over berms.

I have some deep slopes here and I’m concerned about torquing my pto without the top link.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

This is an image of my brush mower when it is sitting on the ground.

My floating toplink on this one is of the other type and prevents the toplink from dropping inside the triangle. However this should give you an idea on where your toplink should be to start with. This position should allow you to lift your deck up and down, you will need to adjust in or out so that it stays level when you lift all the way up and put it down.



View attachment 710669

Thank you again for your help and the photos! I’m trying that in the morning.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

The top link at the tractor does not look right. Did you add something there. The top link could go in a lower hole at the tractor. The braces going to back of the mower could be moved to the other holes and that well pull the top of 3pt top link back. Can the lower link arm hook ups move up and down, maybe you stop them because the 3pt floats up and down. On my woods mowers the top link swings between the brackets, if on top when I pick it up it drops down between the brackets.

It’s all factory. I tried the lower hole but nothing doing. Something is janky with this mower.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

This is an image of my brush mower when it is sitting on the ground.

My floating toplink on this one is of the other type and prevents the toplink from dropping inside the triangle. However this should give you an idea on where your toplink should be to start with. This position should allow you to lift your deck up and down, you will need to adjust in or out so that it stays level when you lift all the way up and put it down.



View attachment 710669

I put my original top link on and have the floating link as you see in my photo while all four wheels on the mower are on the ground. I just mowed under the lights of the tractor and plow light and it definitely doesn’t hit the pto shaft anymore. Going over a steep slope it still bottoms out and I can’t pick up the mower except for the front wheels as the floating link has no stopping point and just floats no matter where I adjust the top link. I’m guess for now I’ll just hit the slopes on an angle to try not to bottom out the mower and screw up my PTO. Thanks again for your help, my pto shaft is safe for now, lol. I might end up putting chains on at a later date like a poster suggested.View attachment 710681

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

I put my original top link on and have the floating link as you see in my photo while all four wheels on the mower are on the ground. I just mowed under the lights of the tractor and plow light and it definitely doesn’t hit the pto shaft anymore. Going over a steep slope it still bottoms out and I can’t pick up the mower except for the front wheels as the floating link has no stopping point and just floats no matter where I adjust the top link. I’m guess for now I’ll just hit the slopes on an angle to try not to bottom out the mower and screw up my PTO. Thanks again for your help, my pto shaft is safe for now, lol. I might end up putting chains on at a later date like a poster suggested.View attachment 710681

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

View attachment 710682

Can you roll over your toplink mount at the tractor to drop it down? As in 180 degrees?

It looks like it is just two pins, but does it fit that way?

 

[CADplans]

The part that is hitting the PTO is simply too long,,
Cut it, and drill new 3/4" holes,,,

I have owned 4 finish mowers, they have all been like this pic, and work perfectly,,

Notice how short Woods makes that swiveling "U" bracket!!??

Cut, then drill, it will then be perfect.

Here is a pic of that mower on my JD tractor, the top link is nowhere near the PTO shaft.

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

The part that is hitting the PTO is simply too long,,
Cut it, and drill new 3/4" holes,,,

I have owned 4 finish mowers, they have all been like this pic, and work perfectly,,

Notice how short Woods makes that swiveling "U" bracket!!??

Cut, then drill, it will then be perfect.

Here is a pic of that mower on my JD tractor, the top link is nowhere near the PTO shaft.

I was actually thinking about that today but wasn’t sure if I would jeopardize the integrity of the metal. I’ll probably try that, thanks for the photos. A huge help!

 

[MUDONTHETIRES]

Can you roll over your toplink mount at the tractor to drop it down? As in 180 degrees?

It looks like it is just two pins, but does it fit that way?

I’ll check it out in the morning. I think the draft control will keep me from doing that but if I can, are you thinking I’ll have a more level top link?

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

I’ll check it out in the morning. I think the draft control will keep me from doing that but if I can, are you thinking I’ll have a more level top link?

My toplink has two positions at the tractor, one is for heavy weight, the other for dragging attachments.

 

[LouNY]

I'd just use a shorter top link.

 

[3gunr]

Cad plans is right, That swivelling bracket is to long , My 5 ft brush hog has that same setup but the bracket is much shorter, That would be an easy fix.

 

[CADplans]

I'd just use a shorter top link.

If you use a shorter top link, the rear of the mower lifts, and will not follow the lawn,,
that will leave areas uncut.

Yes, it will work on a pool table flat lawn,, I do not have that ANYWHERE on my property.

 

[sea2summit]

Might have been because I added ot on an edit.

With the floating toplink point the pivot should still not enter the inside of the triangle, it needs to push out when raising so the deck stays level, if it goes into the triangle you start pushing down and the deck tilts rather than raises.

I am pretty sure you have noticed this before on other attachments when your toplink is too long or short. (If it's too long the attachment tends to curl in towards the tractor)

View attachment 710665

You realize that all you have to do for it to flop down is go over the crest of a hill right? It doesn't just stay there in all conditions, or even most conditions. Raise the implement and put it down it will fall down.