Need short top link

jmc · Oct 16, 2003

Trev,

The good thing about a rigid link is when you hit a bump. I think you just about have it with the link shown in the picture.

Shorten it to the maximum length that will fit when the bottom links are connected and the barrel is flat on the floor. Locate and drill the new top link hole in this same barrel/tractor position. Now drill a second hole between the new first hole and the rear end of the link. So now you have a shorter bar your friend made with two closely spaced holes near the barrel end.

If the ground is flat, when you hook up the rear links , the first hole lines up automatically.

If the ground is not flat in such a way as to make the top of the barrel tip toward the tractor, lift the rear links until the first hole lines up.

If the ground is not flat such that the top of the barrel is tipped away from the tractor, lift the bottom links until the second hole lines up. (in this case, if you have a FEL, you could raise the front of the tractor and use the first hole, thereby eliminating the need for a second hole)

Hope this is clear.

John

Soundguy · Oct 16, 2003

Tractor supply has cat 0 toplink.. It is probably less than 10"

You will need to cut off one of the cat0 ends and weld a cat 1 end on for the tractor ( they have the ends too ), and you can make the toplink bracket on the barrel side just work with the cat0 end so no more welding.. etc.

Soundguy

trailertrash · Oct 16, 2003

trev:
I mentioned in another post one time that I needed a short top link and what I did is I got a screw type chain binder, cut the hooks off and it worked just fine , plenty heavy and adjustable, they even come in different sizes.My needs were for a cat one size.

Trev · Oct 17, 2003

Well, it looks like I got lucky. A pal at work said he has an extra top link laying around, and he'd be glad to cut it down and weld it for me.

I played around last night and found that by hooking up the bottom links and then just backing up a little, I can get the solid bar link to work. Not easy to get those bottom links on, though, when the implement can't even be wiggled.

What I need is a cement floor in the polebarn so I can set this thing on a dolly with wheels! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks for all the help and advice, folks! If the link my friend is making doesn't pan out for some reason.. I'll try some of these ideas.

Best,
Bob

Junkman · Oct 17, 2003

Get yourself an empty 55 Gallon drum and prepare it the way it needs to be for your tractor........ call someone in to pour a cement floor for the pole barn and at the same time have them fill the empty drum to your specifications.. That will solve both problems..... concrete floor in the pole barn and the drum will be exactly the way that you want it..... LOL... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Glenn9643 · Oct 17, 2003

"This is just an experiment.. to see if I can get the weight I want on the back for plowing, etc., "

Seems to me that you couldn't hook up a plow with that contraption on your hitch. Would be good balast for the FEL though.

s1120 · Oct 17, 2003

and estimated weight is around 1200 lb 

WOW!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Isn't that alot?? I was thinking of building one for my 8N, and I was only planing on half full.

Trev · Oct 18, 2003

( Get yourself an empty 55 Gallon drum and prepare it the way it needs to be for your tractor........ call someone in to pour a cement floor for the pole barn and at the same time have them fill the empty drum to your specifications.. That will solve both problems..... concrete floor in the pole barn and the drum will be exactly the way that you want it..... LOL... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Yeah, hindsight being 20/20, that's probably what I should have done alright! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Trev · Oct 18, 2003

( "This is just an experiment.. to see if I can get the weight I want on the back for plowing, etc., "

Seems to me that you couldn't hook up a plow with that contraption on your hitch. Would be good balast for the FEL though. )

Well, I have a front plow.. and what I used to do was fill a rear dirt scoop with at least 600-1000 lbs of sandbags.. was still experimenting.. but it turned out that the more weight I could fit in there the better. The one time I was too lazy to hook up the dirt scoop, a farmer pulled me out when I got stuck. This weight is closer to the tractor, so should give me about the same thing. Driving around with it the other day it felt fine.. so I don't anticipate any problems. I'll let you know if I turn out to be wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Trev · Oct 18, 2003

( and estimated weight is around 1200 lb 

WOW!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Isn't that alot?? I was thinking of building one for my 8N, and I was only planing on half full. )

Yeah, seems like a lot.. but see my note to Glenn.. it seems to work out great with the front blade (which weights about 500 lb by itself. My friend with an 8N uses a rear blade and R1's, and seems to have no problem. I think the 8N is a bit heavier anyway than my JD4300?

Anyway, the 4300 lifts it with ease and seems to have great traction even with R4's when I have serious weight on the back. I'll let you know how it goes once it snows. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif