hydraulic top-link ?

DocHeb · Nov 12, 2002

The one in Chris’s post has a 10” stroke and 1” pinholes. This is a Cat. 2 link.
Mea Culpa, he said sheepishly. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif I didn't even realize it was a Category 2 until you mentioned it! I really missed that one. Take a guy with a charge card who thinks he has a little knowledge and he can really do some damage. This cylinder will need bushings for the ends, but the length is OK for my TC40D.

With all the inquires manufactures have had from Cat. 1 owners. You would think someone would start building them for Cat. 1 like the one Chris bought..
I called Green Manufacturing (Phone: 419-352-9484) and spoke with Gary. He said the Category 2 Hydraulic top link is batch made by them, and they make 10 at a time and it is a stock item, so they can sell them for $90. They also make custom made cylinders that would run twice that. I suggested that his company make a 2" x 8", 18" closed length, swivel-ended Category 1 for their stock item also. He said he didn't know how much demand there was for them, so I told him about TBN and told him to search for "Hydraulic Top Link". Maybe if enough people expressed interest it might seem worthwhile for them to produce a reasonably priced new toy for us.

That $600 and $250 seems high. 
I'm replying to myself here - "hey stupid, maybe your not comparing apples to apples". I'm wondering now if kch's quote wasn't just for a hydraulic top link, but for top and tilt cylinders together. Then the $850 wouldn't seem so bad, and is almost identical to Ron Hall's <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=owning&Number=53434&fpart=2#Post53434>Kubota Top N Tilt Kit</A>. I guess I should have gotten more information before responding with irrational exuberance.

I guess not many people put hydraulic top links on a 2910 the dealer acted like no one has ever asked for that before and had to do a lot of checking and ordering. 
Steve Carver of Carver Equipment has something to say about using a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.carverequipment.com/hydraulic_top_link_on_bx_b.htm> Hydraulic top link on BX and B series Kubota tractors</A> .

Inspector507 · Nov 12, 2002

Chris,
If they had a Cat 1 for $90, I'd think about adding all the other hardware to make it work.

Jerry

Bird · Nov 12, 2002

Chris, I just read what Steve Carver had to say about it. I had sent some e-mails to him when I was thinking about putting the hydraulic links on my B2710, and he didn't want to get involved in that. In one way, I can understand a dealer not wanting to add accessories that are not specifically recommended by the manufacturer, but there's another side to that coin. Kubota has an optional hydraulic outlet on the B series tractors, so I would assume that they expected some owners to add some kind of hydraulic accessories. And Steve had apparently fabricated some hand controls for customers and I don't think Kubota has any specific recommendations on that either. So I think he's missing out on sales he could be making.

But for whatever reason, if he doesn't want to get involved in that, that's his right and I have no quarrel with that. But for me, personally, I put the hydraulic top link and side link, two spool valve, etc. on my B2710 and it was great for convenience as well as getting jobs done quicker, and I never had any problem with the tractor. My dealer, too, was not familiar with that arrangement on a B series tractor, but seemed to like mine when he saw what I'd done.

em14 · Nov 12, 2002

While I can understand to a point the attitude of Kubota but, …. From the attempts and successes of the innovation of their owners comes the improvements for the next release or new product … and look at all the R&D they didn’t have to pay for in the development of the prototype … but you watch they will spend the same amount on R&D regardless and, in fact, they must, the liabilities these folks face are unbelievable … but I remember ... "Racing improves the breed” … I think that they should make items that you want because I think they could work well, should be easy to do and safety should not be a problem … after all ... big tractors have them ...

blackd · Nov 13, 2002

Many of the Yanmars come standard with tilt and joystick electronic controls. The joystick switch went bad, so I have converted mine to straight hydraulic. If I remember the costs were: $69 for valve and @$65 for lines. Of course, I already had the cylinder.

If you ask the Yanmar dealers for pricing, they probably can readily get you cylinders or specs. I don't know why most tractors don't already have tilt. It is sooo much more convenient especially for hooking up equipment.

kch · Nov 13, 2002

The dealer odered the valve which is made for the B series 2910 and has everything but says they can not find a 16 inch top link and have looked everywhere. They said the top link needs to be the same size as the original and if it is longer it will not tilt up as far. So they called me to ask me if i knew where to get a 16 in Hydraulic top-link??????????
OK WHERE DO YOU GET A 16 IN. HYDRAULIC TOP LINK?

ronjhall · Nov 13, 2002

Chris
I didn’t know what size 3PH your tractor has. But when someone asks about a 27-2910 I’m pretty sure about the size. Both Bird and I shortened our Cylinders to 18”.
Sure would be great if Greenway was to make some of the 18” cylinders. I have checked around at different places. A 8” stroke X 2” bore is easy to come by. Getting one that will have a ¾” ball joint on either end is almost impossible to find unless you go with Tisco or the other companies. Even then to fit the 27-2910 Kubota they require overall length to be shortened.
My Dealer offered to order me the same cylinders from Tisco as TSC. But he made me the deal on a valve that cut into the price. He has to make an order of at least $500. My order would have been less than $400 for the 2 cylinders.
I don’t know if you have read all the threads from the last 2 years about Top & Tilt that others and I put on our tractors. They weren’t exactly trouble free getting them to work. It was quite a learning experience for myself. Having to add 2 bushing may be the easiest Top project that has been done on TBN.
With all the problems that have been experienced here on TBN may be why Dealers like Carver do not want to get involved with this type of installation. He does have to make money and still be able to sell it at a price customers are willing to pay. Some of the Dealers on the West Coast install them as a standard option for customers.
Every time I sign onto TBN it’s a learning experience. What a great place to add to our knowledge while doing something we enjoy. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

ronjhall · Nov 13, 2002

kch
I went out and measured the top link that came with my 2910. It is 17” center to center when both ends are screwed all the way in. I have never pulled mine all the way in with any of my attachments. My hydraulic top link is 18”. This seems to work very well on the 2910 tractor. As you may have seen in other post I had to modify cylinder to make it 18”. It came from Tisco 20” between centers.
While your looking at the top link. Ask your dealer about the heavy-duty top link bracket. When using the Hydraulic Top Link it is a good option to ad. If you are getting a Back Hoe it should be part of the package. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=owning&Number=107936&fpart=1>Click Here</A> for a link to a thread on this subject.

hosejockey2002 · Nov 14, 2002

I most definitely would. My tractor has a third spool on the loader valve, so it would be just a matter of running hoses and quick disconnects.

RobertN · Nov 14, 2002

All the rental shops around here have TnT on thier tractors. B2710's sitting at the two local rental yards have Gannon stuff on them. It appears to be from a kit form.

There does not appear to be many "kits" available. There is enough variation tractor to tractor and brand to brand that nobody wants to deal on a relatively low volume product.

Of course, it would help if the manufacturers "standardized" a bit, even within thier own lines.

the local repair shop, who also carries the Cub Cadet line, custom makes all setups he installs. He get $900+ for a complete installed TnT.

RobertN · Nov 14, 2002

When I was building, I looked around a lot. I think it was Prince that had a Cat-1 link available. I thought could buy a cylinder and weld the pieces on cheaper though... I think it was $175 or so.

kch · Nov 14, 2002

When I agreed to puchase a B2910 I without thinking it would be a problem asked for a hydraulic top-link, I already owned a TC33 which I had a hydraulic top link put on without a problem. I had no idea my request would be such a problem. I did not realize that a hydraulic top-link was such a unusual request for a B2710 or 2910. Well it has been over a week and the dealer has still no idea where to get a top-link to fit this tractor. Why????????????????????? I thought this was a popular tractor used by rental and landscapers. I now question if buying this tractor which still has not been delivered is a good idea.

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 15, 2002

Sounds like a classic case of "Buyer's Remorse" is setting in. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Hoeman00 · Nov 15, 2002

Why did u want to switch to orange anyway?

Go BLUE.

MikePA · Nov 15, 2002

Since people with different tractor models have responded, I thought I'd post this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=nhown&Number=89244&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>link</A> to a thread, with pictures, of installing two rear remotes on a TC29D.

kch · Nov 15, 2002

no not buyers remorse, more like just why is it so hard for kubota put a hydraulic top-link on this tractor when they are supose to lead the market in tractor sales??? I like the tractor. I checked with NH first but they did not have anything that compares with the 2910 smaller then the TC33 and everything they did have was smaller with less pwer and cost more at the time i was looking for another tractor. Both dealers are the same distance apart and I liked both. I just did not realize it would be a problem. Makes me wonder if NH has factory links for there TC24 and TC18's.

kch · Nov 15, 2002

The dealer is one of the largest in the state, that is why I thought it was a bit odd they had such a hard time with this.

Well final update was that they found a 15 in. hydraulic top link from GANNON who someone mentioned on this post. They are shipping it today. They have factory valves for the 2910 and it should be ready next week. The top link was $250 however, but the total cost ended up being around $700 installed. Not bad! I think the NH link on the tc33 was around $850 installed. The dealer said now they know where to find them next time. i still have to wonder why no one has asked for one up to this point from that dealer? Maybe everyone does the do it yourself kit thing? Thanks for the input....

ronjhall · Nov 16, 2002

kch
Glad to hear that your dealer has found the correct cylinder. When your tractor is delivered it sure would be great if you could post some pictures of the valve and top link. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RobertN · Nov 18, 2002

Every rental tractor in the rental yards in the great Sacramento Ca area has TnT on them. Most of the ones I have seen say "GANNON" on them...

Are those guys at Gannon not telling us something?

RobertN · Nov 18, 2002

Bigger than this? 16" bore, 200+" stroke?
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hydraulic-cylinders.com/hydraulic-cylinders.htm>http://www.hydraulic-cylinders.com/hydraulic-cylinders.htm</A>