Top link destruction.

[aarolar]

Crap...

 

[devildog1]

Ok I'll bite, what happened?
DevilDog

 

[aarolar]

Cutting roots on a stump so I can pull it out.

 

[teg]

Since I have a Pine stump that I was planning to do the same to... cutting roots with a sub-soiler. Can you be more specific? (and more photos ) Sorry this happened to ya'...

Edit: I see you have much more of a tractor... more HP!!!

 

[devildog1]

Wow, never broke a top link before even when skidding out logs but as they say s**t happens. Is that an original Kubota top link? I sometimes use a 3" Hydro top link I purchased from Brian, much heaver duty.
DevilDog

 

[Xfaxman]

Looks you where backing up when it broke.

And it was out to max length.

 

[aarolar]

Nope broke pulling but it was at max length

 

[bcp]

I agree with fully out, but the near 90 degree bend looks to me like it bent in compression, going forward, until it broke. I wouldn't expect a bend if it was a tension break.

Bruce

 

[KennyV]

So... instead of having a shear bolt on the ripper, you are using the top link as a shear point.
If you beef up the top link guess what part of the tractor breaks...
I would consider myself lucky that this time an inexpensive part broke.

 

[Xfaxman]

I agree with fully out, but the near 90 degree bend looks to me like it bent in compression, going forward, until it broke. I wouldn't expect a bend if it was a tension break.

Bruce

Yep, I knew it was compression and just looking at the picture, the force was backwards. I didn't consider all of the geometry involved with his root rake and a floating 3 point hitch.

 

[aarolar]

So... instead of having a shear bolt on the ripper, you are using the top link as a shear point.
If you beef up the top link guess what part of the tractor breaks...
I would consider myself lucky that this time an inexpensive part broke.

Know what happens when you assume something?

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Know what happens when you assume something?

You get A LOT of that on here.

 

[4570Man]

So... instead of having a shear bolt on the ripper, you are using the top link as a shear point. If you beef up the top link guess what part of the tractor breaks... I would consider myself lucky that this time an inexpensive part broke.

The lower 3 point arms should be capable of taking all the pull the tractor can provide. The implement might break next, but you can beef that up next. The tractor should loose traction before it breaks.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

You keep that up you will be breaking the casting for the pins on the lower arms on the brake case, NOT FUN or cheap to REPLACE. The rear 3 PT is not strong enough for pushing or pulling and transfering compression to top link.

David

 

[Xfaxman]

A longer top link may not have bent.

You could make a sliding top link like this with a shear bolt in it.

Or a piece of tubing that will slide over the too short top link and drilled for a shear bolt.

 

[ritschner]

Looks like the top link on my L2800. Is that one a cat1?

 

[4570Man]

You keep that up you will be breaking the casting for the pins on the lower arms on the brake case, NOT FUN or cheap to REPLACE. The rear 3 PT is not strong enough for pushing or pulling and transfering compression to top link. David

Your saying the 3 point hitch isn't strong enough to pull from? What the heck is it for?

 

[C4Ranch]

Time to upgrade to a hydraulic top link! :thumbsup:

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Your saying the 3 point hitch isn't strong enough to pull from? What the heck is it for?

I have broken the brake case when one of the three point arms dropped while backing and hit a solid object. Have seen the brake case break and the lower arms twisted while someone else was pushing logs with a box blade.

If you are using a long shank ripper it will transfer alot of stress to the toplink mount similar to what a 3 PT backhoe will do and break the differential case.

David

 

[aarolar]

So my assessment of the failure is last week I bent the top link against the brace in the ROPS using my boom pole with the lift arms in the lower hole. I bent it back as straight as I could but I imagine it still had a ever so slight bow to it which allowed the force to "get the advantage".