Dargo,
A hydraulic top link is the first item I made and and the most important attachment I have. Go for it.
Chris,
Nice project. I have several suggestions:
1. 1 x 1 x 1/8 angle is not well suited for loads in compression. Just a little bend and your main pole will possibly break at the 3pt top link connection. A piece of 1 1/2" pipe on each side would be better.
2. I attached my pipes to the midpoint of the boom instead of the end. This leaves more room at the end.
3. You have not yet discovered a 3pt (Speeco or I-Match) quick hitch. It would have been great to have made yours so it would work with the bobtach and a Speeco. Mine fits a Speeco but not bobtach and it is very very fast to install. No pins. Drop it in place. Wish mine could be addapted to Bobtach, but is already weighs a lot.
4. I found the round loop at the end to be a poor way to connect a chain. The hook comes undone when it gets bouncy. I added a piece of 1/2" x 3" plate with two round shackel holes, a slotted hole that a chain fits through, and also has a chain hook welded on it. A picture is woth a thousand, so I'll look for one. Any how, my chain is always attached and can't get lost, and the chain hook can be used for a longer chain.
5. The connection point at the midpoint of the boom is also a good idea. It might effectively double the lifting capacity.
I think a tractor attachment is built well when you can't accidently tear it up. Otherwise, you probably will. Test yours by chaining it to a big tree stump at the mid-point chain connection. My boom pole can lift the front tractor tires off the ground.
Overall, a Hyd. top link and a boom pole work great together. Nice project with great ideas.
