Hydraulic top link advice needed

Stihlrunner · May 9, 2012

Hi,

I need some advice on a top link purchase. I have a Jinma 284 with rear remotes and Cat I. I would like to purchase a hydraulic top link but I'm not sure what to look for. I assume I need another joystick to control it?

Can this be purchased in kit form or do I need to purchase each componenent separately? Going by the top link I have now, something in the 20" retracted length would fit.

As always, thanks for the input!

LD1 · May 9, 2012

Stihlrunner said:
Hi,

I need some advice on a top link purchase. I have a Jinma 284 with rear remotes and Cat I. I would like to purchase a hydraulic top link but I'm not sure what to look for. I assume I need another joystick to control it?

Can this be purchased in kit form or do I need to purchase each componenent separately? Going by the top link I have now, something in the 20" retracted length would fit.

As always, thanks for the input!

You need rear remotes to run the toplink. IF you dont have a set of them, you need to install a set.

Once that is done, a member here makes the Top and Tilt kits. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/members/mtnviewranch.html

I dont have one, and dont have remotes either, but I hear they are top notch kits. And he is a well known and respected member here.:thumbsup:

jpm1 · May 9, 2012

Get ahold of brian at Fit-rite-hydralics, and he will fix you up. he is a member here, i think he goes by mtnview ranch. I have one of his cylinders, very good to do business with . . .John

greg_g · May 9, 2012

Stihlrunner said:
I need some advice on a top link purchase. I have a Jinma 284 with rear remotes and Cat I.

You used "remotes" in the plural. Please confirm that you mean no less than two. That's what it takes to run a HTL; one supply, one return. And if you actually do have such a pair, there should already be a control valve for them somewhere on the tractor. I've never heard of two-way remotes installed without a control valve of some kind. But if you've only got one individual remote, that's a different kettle of fish.

//greg//

LD1 · May 9, 2012

greg_g said:
You used "remotes" in the plural. Please confirm that you mean no less than two. That's what it takes to run a HTL; one supply, one return. And if you actually do have such a pair, there should already be a control valve for them somewhere on the tractor. I've never heard of two-way remotes installed without a control valve of some kind. But if you've only got one individual remote, that's a different kettle of fish.

//greg//

I totally missed that in his post. But yes, if you have a pair, side by side, of quick disconnect looking fittings, that is remotes. Trace back where each of those hydraulic hoses are going. It should go to a valve somewhere.:thumbsup:

Stihlrunner · May 9, 2012

Ok, there are two remote ports in the rear. One is obviously the return since it runs right into the hydraulic tank. The other hard line runs to a manifold in the front that the loader line runs into. There's no extra valve for the rear remote.

I'm guessing the lines would hook into the quick connects and then run to an independent valve body/joystick?

greg_g · May 9, 2012

Ah, I'm guessing you bought a used tractor. That sounds like a home-made lashup. I'm further guessing that supply comes from the power beyond port on the loader controller, and what you're calling the return is the standard one-way port that has been fitted with an extension pipe and QD fitting.

But this is based upon your description this far. Someone on the spot would have to confirm that, or more details would have to be provided. I'm not gonna say it won't work as-is, but it would be useful to know if it ever worked for the previous owner. The reason I say this is the standard one-way port requires that you turn a valve in the side of the lift box (or possibly the flow control valve in front) that diverts flow away from the rear lift. It's an either/or configuration. If you hook your HTL up there, you can either use it - or the rear lift -but not both at the same time.

//greg//

Stihlrunner · May 9, 2012

No, I bought it brand new. It's pretty obviously factory....all hardlined in clamps, etc.

LD1 · May 10, 2012

Any pics of that setup?

If there is no valve, and only one is supply and the other runs direct back to tank, I agree that it wont work as is for a HTL without some other valve, otherwise your cylinder would only be power BOTH ways.

It sounds like it was possibly setup to run an implement with a Hydraulic motor?? or possible something with its own valve like a logsplitter or backhoe?

greg_g · May 10, 2012

Stihlrunner said:
No, I bought it brand new. It's pretty obviously factory....all hardlined in clamps, etc.

In what country? I ask, because I don't recall seeing anything like that on small Jinmas coming into the USA.

//greg//

murphy1244 · May 10, 2012

Maybe to run a backhoe or log splitter where the controls are on the attachment.

Stihlrunner · May 10, 2012

greg_g said:
In what country? I ask, because I don't recall seeing anything like that on small Jinmas coming into the USA.

//greg//

Chinese goods purchased right here in the USA!:laughing:

kneedeep · May 10, 2012

Use a Hydraulink

AgSupply has them for $260 :thumbsup:

greg_g · May 10, 2012

Ok, then that's a recent change to incoming Jinmas that many of us will unlikely have seen before. I'm thinking this is something you should take up with the selling dealer - or with another dealer who's received inventory with this feature.

About the Hydraulink recommendation, I'll admit up front that I've only read about them. You can view the website information and decide for yourself, but I'd say it was presumptuous to put it in the same category with a HTL. To me, it's a device that fits somewhere in between a conventional rigid toplink and its hydraulic big brother. Not cheap either.

//greg//

Stihlrunner · May 13, 2012

Since nobody seems to be familiar with my setup, I'm going to try to figure this one out.

The facts of the case are these:

There are two hydraulic ports on the rear under the seat. One clearly goes to the reservoir under the seat. The other runs up to black of lines near the loader. Assuming this is some kind of distribution box. Near as I can tell, there is no control for the remotes...like they are just "on".

My Wilco store has a top link cylinder for $89. I'm thinking of buying that. Have one hose made that goes to return and one that goes to a single lever valve joystick.

Any flaws in that plan?

phiferpharm · May 13, 2012

I'd have to second the opinion on the Hydraulink being a substitute for the real thing. I have one and it does not really allow you the type of adjustment you get with a real hydraulic top link. I bought it for my FarmTrac, but didn't like it for the Kioti.

greg_g · May 13, 2012

Stihlrunner said:
My Wilco store has a top link cylinder for $89.

I'm having a hard time envisioning a Cat 1 HTL for $89. Before you commit, I recommend you verify its lift capacity. The 200 series 2200 PSI hydraulic system is rated to lift 875 pounds 24" back at the swivels. That means there's enough hydraulic pressure to (try and) make a HTL lift even more than that.

Knowing that, I'd be a little afraid of an $89 HTL.

//greg//

tpulley · May 13, 2012

I put one on my Kioti. It is sooooo much nicer to have infite control from the drivers seat of the top link.

On my kioti it came with a set or rear remotes (dk45se) these are controlled by the valve "stick" under the FEL joystick.

I got mine from Agrisupply, put the hoses and fittings on there etc. Then realized as I had it on I needed about 2 inches more of travel than I had. I cut the end that mounts to the tractor and welded a block of steel in between them. I LOVE it. It has been on for about 3-4 months now.

I can see I want/need another set of remotes now as I am about to hook up a post driver that will use the RR too.

On your Jinma if you have the rear remotes you almost have to ahve some valve stick to make the hydraulic fluid flow.

dfkrug · May 13, 2012

Stihlrunner said:
There are two hydraulic ports on the rear under the seat. One clearly goes to the reservoir under the seat. The other runs up to black of lines near the loader. Assuming this is some kind of distribution box. Near as I can tell, there is no control for the remotes...like they are just "on".

My Wilco store has a top link cylinder for $89. I'm thinking of buying that. Have one hose made that goes to return and one that goes to a single lever valve joystick.

Sounds like you have a setup for a backhoe (or log splitter) as MURPHY
says. That would mean that the distribution box you see has some sort
of manual diverter control on it to switch the Power Beyond Out from the
FEL valve between either the 3-pt cyl or the AUX fittings you see on the
rear. The control is usually a small slotted screw head valve in the block,
maybe 1/2" in diameter. It rotates 90-deg to divert flow.

If that's what you have, then your AUX setup won't work for a hyd toplink
since the AUX would be usable only when the 3-pt is not. That's OK for
a hoe, but you really need both the 3PT and the HTL at the same time.

If or when you do get a HTL setup, you will use a single spool valve, mounted
to your fender or ROPS. A joystick control is for operating 2 valves, so
you don't need that.

Maybe the $89 HTL cyl you saw was Cat 0? I don't think I have ever seen a
Cat 1 HTL cyl sell for less than $179. I think off-the-shelf is OK here,
unless you want to have a HTL with a particular closed and extended
length ideally suited to your tractor and implements. I have had both.