L3400 CCM hydraulic top link length

[StrangeRanger]

My concern w/ the fender was the fact you'd have about 35-40lbs of valve bouncing there. Look under the fender at how it's attached to the tractor, it's not that impressive. I'll look at mine tonight, maybe together we'll come up w/ a neat idea.

 

[canoetrpr]

StrangeRanger, you are right on the money. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

I inspected it today and it's just not sturdy enough. The bracket is got to be off the ROPS. The best spots that I can think of are on the right hand side but on the inside of the ROPS.

One spot I am thinking of of is just above the steel brace that the SMV sign is attached to, attached to the fender. An L shaped bracket will probably work here.

The other is a bit higher, where the ROPS is angles out at about 45 degrees. I imagine that would be harder to build a bracket to fit and be supported at the right angle.

A local guy who has a welding shop is dropping by tomorrow to take a look at what he can do. Looking forward to plumbing the hydraulics once the mount is made.

 

[canoetrpr]

StrangeRanger, these are wushaw's photos of his Kubota mount that comes with the Kubota kit.

Note that the flasher seems to have been moved to a new location to get it out of the way.

I had the guy who is going to weld me a mount up here and decided to have him use the Kubota mount as a reference. The valve can be bolted up vertically like the Kubota one. I'll have to take the handles off and put them on the other side just like the Kubota.

The end result should look pretty much like what wushaw's mount looks like and I won't need 90 degree fittings on the valve ports - as the valve will be vertical rather than horizontal.

He said he's going to charge me 100 bucks to up a bracket - sounds like a great deal to me.

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and muck around with moving my toolbox which is bolted on that size and would not open if I moved the flasher up as in wushaw's photo.... argh! Thats going to leave a few holes in the fender that I'll probably just paint and smooth out.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Thanks for the pics!

That is along the lines of what I was thinking of doing. I'm toying between something like that and a simple L bracket w/ the valve assy sitting horizontal. The L bracket would sit just above the flasher light so I wouldn't have to worry about moving it. But as you pointed out I'd have to buy risers and 90 deg fittings if I keep the valve assy horizontal.

I don't want the assy sticking out too far, but I also have no idea how "flexible" the lines will be so I don't know about having the hoses go around the ROPS bar. Or will the hoses all have to be on one side or the other of the ROPS?

Noob question, what's involved w/ flipping the handles? I'm not at home so I can't look at them.

Noob question #2, once this is all hooked up, is there a bleeder valve on the valve assy? I'm assuming we have to get the air out and I'm wondering the best way to do that.

I wonder if CCM will send out a tracking number when the ship?

 

[canoetrpr]

I don't believe that there is much involved in flipping the handles at all. Take out the cotter pins and the metal pins that hold the handle in place, flip them and install new cotter pins.

Don't believe that there is a bleeder valve in the hydraulic system at all. Makes me wonder how air gets out of there.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Dang it Canoe, I knew there was a reason I didn't want to listen to your logic of buying the extra remotes. I'm already drawing up plans to drive the angle of my rear blade and I don't even have this project finished yet! LOL

 

[StrangeRanger]

Got my port plug & o-ring yesterday. C'mon CCM!!

If anyone considering this project wanted some pics, here are some pics of the valve assy.

 

[StrangeRanger]

And more pics of assy.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Hey Canoe,

I got my cylinders yesterday, good news & not so good. The top link is sweet. But I'm disappointed w/ the side link. Honestly, I'm feeling a little rooked. The side link was by no means inexpensive and it's supposed to be a "custom" build, but it sure doesn't fit like a custom build. Guess I've got to call Mark and see if anything can be done. Pisser.

After lots of fiddling around I've also decided where I'm gonna mount my valve too. Once I flipped the handle around, it actually fits nicely on the angled section of the ROPS. It might look a little odd there, but of all the places I've tried it that spot offered the best visability, I won't knock the handles by accident, the mounting plate is very easy to make and the hoses will be very easy to route. So I'm gonna try to get some time off from work tomorrow and get my hoses made and weld up the mounting plate. Hopefully I can make the side link work, but that might have to wait. At least the top link will work. I'm stoked!

 

[canoetrpr]

StrangeRanger:

Good to hear you got your stuff. Too bad about the side link. I didn't quite follow what was wrong with the side link. Do you think you will have to modify it to get it to fit? will it fit?

Bit odd - I haven't heard back from CCM. They took my order over the phone. They said their welding line was not up last week - but I never got a total or a confirmation and they never took my Visa number! I better call them to see whats going on.

So were you thinking of doing the bracket about 6 to 8 inches above the fender where the ROPS angles out about 45 degrees?. Hmm that sounds like a good location.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Yup, I talked to Mark @ CCM and I'm going to take some pictures for him and then I'll have to send my side link back to be modified.

If you look at your side link you'll notice the bottom fork on the stock one is angled to line up w/ the lift arm. My side link from CCM does not have this angle so it binds up when connected to the lift arm. Plus, the hole size is not right. It's got like a 3/4" hole instead of 1/2". I'm gonna measure the hole, I think it's actually 13mm so I'll ream it out when I get it back if that is the case. But w/out the fork having the proper angle the geometry is all wrong.

Attached is a napkin drawing of where I'm gonna put my valve. Once I flipped the handle to face towards the back of the tractor I actually liked it up there. Well, I liked it out of the possible places I could think to try it. Flip your handles and place it up there and see what you think. Since I've got to send my side link back nothing is written in stone or welded in place That view is from behind the tractor, looking at the SMV sign. Don't laugh at my drawing. Simple to make. It's 3 flat plates welded together and 5 screw holes. KISS method.

 

[canoetrpr]

StrangeRanger - sounds like a nice setup. I already had a welder over who measured the straight portion of the ROPS to build a bracket for so guess I'll have to stick to that

I'm pretty dissapointed to hear about the sidelink. I'm hoping now that they haven't shipped mine yet! I talked to someone at CCM today who had absoutely no record of my order. She said to call back and talk to Mark. I'll talk to him today and mention this issue.

I noticed the kink before and just assumed that they would be accounting for this since they knew this was a side link. This is the only tractor I've had so I figured that this kink is pretty standard.

Anyway, will call Mark today. If they haven't sent out the order and haven't built the side link maybe I'll ask them to just send out the top link.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Ya, I liked the straight area section mounting idea too, but when I held the valve there to see what it was like, it obstructed some of my view. Either place will work great though, just personal pref

Now I gotta think up an excuse to get out of work on Friday so I can screw off w/ my tractor

 

[canoetrpr]

Talked to Mark today. He's definately a good guy to work with. Luckily for me, my order never got put in.

I asked him to ship me the same top link that he shipped you - 18-26.5. He asked me for the hole size on the top link. I said it was 3/4". Don't believe their question/answer sheet asked that. Quite sure it is 3/4" - will check today.

On the side link, I reminded him about your issue with the angle. He's waiting for pictures. I said that I would take some as well so that he can judge the angle. He was aware that the B series has a 15 degree angle but did not know that the L series did. Maybe the Grand L did not ?

I've asked for a 16.5" side link with a two inch stroke. Can you double check the length of the side link they sent you as well.

 

[canoetrpr]

I remember when I measured out the size of the holes on the side link, they were 3/4 of an inch. Will do that again tonight when I send in my pictures.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Hey Canoe,
I just sent Mark some pictures so hopefully I'll hear back from him soon and be returning my side link for modification.
My side link is the 16.5" but I believe you're remembering incorrectly, it has a 4" stroke.
The top hole is 3/4" and I just measured the bottom pins w/ a caliper and they are actually 13.85mm, so just a hair over 1/2". I told Mark I'd like a half inch hole and I'll ream it out the rest of the way. Plus, I've got to source a longer pin or bolt as the fork on the new side link is about 1,000 times beefier than the stock one. See pic below. I just hate waiting, but I'd rather wait and get it done right eh.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Holy cow! I sent Mark the pics not half hour ago and he already got back to me. Sweet service!! Thank you CCM!

 

[canoetrpr]

Hi StrangeRanger:

You are right - that was a typo. It is 16.5" with a 4" stroke. You are right - I will need a longer pin too. 1/2" pin should be quite easy to find I would hope.

I've posted a picture of my sidelink that I sent Mark with measurements.

I don't have calipers so I measured with a goodly tape mesure - figure I came pretty close to the real size with 14 mm

Got my port plug and oring today. Can't wait to get my mount!

BTW. Thats a really nice location you picked out to mount. If I hadn't placed my order to the welder for a plate, I probably would change it to there too.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Hey, where's your PTO shaft cover? LOL

My valve is at the hose shop, hopefully I'll get it back soon so I can send it back. Even while the side link is sent back I'll still be able to use the new top link. Sweet!!

Still have to wonder about bleeding the air out though. Guess I'll show my noob-ness at the hose shop and get that guys advice

 

[StrangeRanger]

Hey Canoe,

Got my top link installed this w/end!

I measured my hoses a little longer than needed which makes the fit need a little tweaking, but it's so sweet. I hooked up my box blade and must have stood there for 5 min tipping it back and forth LOL! I'm actually stoked to start driveway work again.

My side link is on the UPS truck back to CCM so hopefully that gets turned around quick. But once that is back it's simply a matter of popping it on. The valves are all hooked up, hoses are run and I'm stoked.

If it ever stops f*&*king snowing here I'll take some pics. The only other thing I'm thinking about doing is flipping the check valve on the top link. Simply because my hoses are a little longer than needed I think I'd get more clearance if it's ok to flip that check valve.