Toplink category 2 hydraulic toplink

markct · Mar 2, 2003

does anyone remember what company it was that manufactured a category 2 hydraulic toplink that cost around 99 dollars i belive. i recall people talking about it a while back, mostly people were saying it was too bad that they only made category 2 not category 1, since the majority of the people here were lookin to use them on the little compact toys, i need one to fit my ford 8000 which has cat 2 hitch, i am building a forklift attachment for it and want one to tilt the mast with,also it would be nice for other implements too since the 3 pt toplink is about 2 feet below where you sit so it cant be reached from the seat, plus the tractor has a cab on it. thanks

Bird · Mar 2, 2003

I'm going to guess that you're talking about baileynet.com here.

thcri · Mar 2, 2003

Check this link out. top link

Not sure on price or if this was the one your looking for. I did a search on TBN and could not come up with anything but if you do a search in www.google.com there was options there.

Murph

markct · Mar 2, 2003

wow that was fast, in like 5 minutes 7 views and 1 reply, that might be the one, i guess they went up in price a bit since they show 140 bucks for one of them. funny thing is too that in the description it says welded hydraulic toplink but in the picture it shows a tie rod cylinder. at that price i will just buy a tie rod cylinder from tractor supply co and weld an eye on the rod end and make a swivel for the clevis end. i sorta wanted to find a welded cylinder instead of a tied rod cylinder since they arnt as bulky and such for the toplink

Inspector507 · Mar 2, 2003

Little compact TOYS?

Anonymous Poster · Mar 2, 2003

Green Manufacturing sells a category 2 hydraulic toplink for $90 plus shipping. I bought one about a month ago. It has an eye on the rod end and a two way swivel on the other end.

JohnMiller3 · Mar 2, 2003

Thanks Tom...

I couldn't find that link to save my life... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

That is a great price... isn't it...!

DocHeb · Mar 2, 2003

<font color="blue">wow that was fast, in like 5 minutes 7 views and 1 reply </font>

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gifYeah, we may only have "toys", but we'll still help you out! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The one I also bought was from Green Manufacturing, and it was $90 plus $9 shipping. It came in three days. They're considering making a Category I top link, but they aren't sure there is a market. Tell them you read about their company on TBN, and ask them if they ever considered making a Cat I toplink.

You can get the two hoses needed with quick connects and swivel connectors at each end from Surplus Center for about $55 bucks plus shipping.

JimMc · Mar 2, 2003

Make sure you incorporate a pilot operated check valve into your system, preferably directly on the cylinder. Otherwise a blown hose or valve o-ring could allow your implement to fall. Sort of like pulling out the top link pin with the implement lifted. Not a good time to be doing adjustments with hands on the implement /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

markct · Mar 2, 2003

thats a good idea about a pilot operated check valve, but i am generaly carful about being around lifted hydraulic equipment so i realy dont think its a big deal, i dont think any of the comercialy available ones have a valve built in do they? and besides if the 3 pt hydraulics in the tractor failed the implement would come down too, so i dont think i would be creating a huge hazard here. whenever i work under an implement like a brushog etc i always have the tractor off and the implement securely blocked up anyhow

JimMc · Mar 2, 2003

The pilot check also keeps the implement draft from forcing the cylinder in and out changing the top link length, such as when travelling down the road with a rotary cutter lifted and hitting bumps, bouncing the cutter.

Several commercially available links use this system. All of the companies whose manufacturer's liablity insurance companies are aware that they build link cylinders use the pilot operated check valve systems.

The biggest problem comes when the hose supplying the cylinder is damaged or is worn through and ruptures suddenly and there is no check in place, dropping the tail of the implement. Other people have broken fittings off when the hose wasn't routed properly and lifting the implement pulled the fitting. In these situations the 3 point lift system is isolated and remains lifted. Many times, the force of the implement falling pulls the rod completely out of the cylinder allowing the implement to fall all the way to the ground.