Homemade Hydraulic Toplink

[catdozer]

So while in the shop looking for a replacement cylinder for the grapple (snapped the rod) i found a 2.5 bore 1 1\8 rod 15in stroke cylinder. It was missing the clevis ends so i thought it would be a good cylinder to make a toplink. But it was a 15in stroke. I went ahead disassembled and cleaned everything and measured it all out and put it on the band saw and cut off 5 inches of the tube.

Put it on the lathe and put a inside bevel on it so the ends slide in. Everything fit great had about a 9 1\2 stroke. I was pretty happy i picked up toplink replacement ends for 8.99 each. I got the one on the cylinder end welded all up. Cut the rod off and welded that end on. I had 1\2 hoses that fit with couplings. This was in one day. Today i need to pick up new bolts to hold the cylinder together.

I only got a few pictures but they wont load. Can put then on later.
But in all i will end up with a hydraulic toplink for about $30-$40
if it fails, Well wont be out much as i can still cut the ends off.

 

[skylarkguy]

Neat, the level of fab work on this site is often pretty impressive

 

[catdozer]

Well heres it all hooked up. Just need a coat of black paint and im good to go. Went and played around with the box blade, cant wait to try out the landplane with it

 

[Stimw]

I think about making one everytime that I have to adjust the turnbuckle!
I planned to just have it manual adjust with lines going to a small reservour with a shut off valve to open and adjust.

 

[skipmarcy]

Great work !! I built mine with a 2 1/2" cylinder and have been very happy with it for the last 8 years. I think you'll like the capacity of that size cylinder. I had bought my cylinder from Surplus Center and cut the clevis ends off and bought the swivel ends from Tractor Supply to weld on. I also put a Prince pilot operated check valve on mine to cover any valve leakage or possible hose blow-out with a heavy piece suspended on the 3pt. I paid as much for that valve as I had in the cylinder & swivel ends but oh well... I know the implement will stay where I put it, hydraulically. Doing it all over again I might not put the valve on there to save a little money. I wouldn't own a tractor without a hydraulic toplink since having this one !!!