Toplink Top Link Pin

[JDGreenGrass]

I am having my JD weight box filled with cement in the next day or 2.

Once the cement has firmed up can I lift the box out of my truck by hooking onto the top link pin.?? How big should the pin be.??

(need a quick answer)

Thanks.

 

[Barry Bowen]

Depends on how the mounting for the top link is, and how heavy the box is. It may be possible if not too heavy. Just use your common sense! It will lean over when you lift it, but you will be able to get on ground. Why not just fill it will concrete on the ground? Use the biggest pin that will fit the whole.

 

[Couple of Achers]

I am having my JD weight box filled with cement in the next day or 2.

Once the cement has firmed up can I lift the box out of my truck by hooking onto the top link pin.?? How big should the pin be.??

(need a quick answer)

Thanks.

The pin can only be as big as the hole. Which if it is for a cat1 hitch, then I'm pretty sure the top link pin is 3/4". Never use anything smaller than that. It might be better to cement a handle in the top for lifting. Bend a piece of heavy rebar or solid pipe into the shape of a "U". You may even want to flare the ends of the "U" outward as well. Once the crete is poured, then stick the "U" upside down in the crete, leaving a loop exposed. Make sure you leave the legs of the "U" long enough to really get down into the crete. Then you can use the handle to hook you chain to while lifting it.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

The more I think about it I am realizing that need to put a rebar handle in the center.

How big does the rebar need to be (gauge).??

I am having it filled at a cement plant.

I'm all set...may not be this week that I get it filled. No snow in sight, yet. I need to take just a little time to do it right. The "handle" will come in handy. I fought with attachments this weekend at the 3pt. hitch. Arrggghhhhh.!!!!!!

I'm a newb.

Thanks guys.

 

[Couple of Achers]

The more I think about it I am realizing that need to put a rebar handle in the center.

How big does the rebar need to be (gauge).??

I am having it filled at a cement plant.

I'm all set...may not be this week that I get it filled. No snow in sight, yet. I need to take just a little time to do it right. The "handle" will come in handy. I fought with attachments this weekend at the 3pt. hitch. Arrggghhhhh.!!!!!!

I'm a newb.

Thanks guys.

You will fight with 3pt. attachments as long as you own a tractor. The thing is, with time and experience, the fight becomes less and less of an issue. I don't speek rebar language so someone else will help you decide on what size you should use. I would say min. 1/2". I think there is a number associated with 1/2" rebar. Maybe a number 5? Someone will let you know.

 

[jenkinsph]

You should be able to buy a 4' piece of rebar at your local home center and bend it into shape, I would use 1/2" rebar which is a commonly available size. I would do this sooner than later as the concrete needs to set for a week or so (depends on how cold it is and how thick) and could be curing for you during the holidays. You only need the concrete to cure fully if you are going to use the rebar to pick it up.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

True....By putting the rebar in the cure time is extended.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Willl]

I pick mine up with the top link pin all the time, no handle needed.

 

[kennyd]

Didn't we just cover this in another thread you started? Don't forget to seal those seems

 

[JB4310]

Rebar goes in 1/8" increments so a 4 is 1/2" 6 is 3/4 ...

I've picked mine up by the pin, it's at least as strong as 1/2" rebar which often fractures under the stress of such a tight bend instead of rebar hook for that one time you need to get it of the truck I'd rather see you put some pipes in for tools.

Also mine only took 6 x 80 lb bags of concrete mix, leaving about 3 inches from the top, you could mix that right in the box in 20 minutes. It doesn't have to be a perfect mix, it ain't going anywhere and your not stripping the forms you couldn't mix in the box if you were putting pipes in, but it is only 3 x 2 bag mixes in a wheelbarrow.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I put a 3/8" re-barb lifting ring in the middle. It works perfect. You can see it in the picture. Its welded on each end just for good measure and to keep it steady while filling with concrete to the lift pin bar.

Chris

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Didn't we just cover this in another thread you started? Don't forget to seal those seems

I did start another thread but my question of using the top pin to lift it never got answered and I wanted a quick answer. And, my internet ettiquette sucks.

I have duct taped the seams. The light was shining through. Good tip right there. Thanks.

I am going to go with just the pin for lifting it. It's a 3/4" pin. I did buy a 36" length of 1/2" rebar and I flared the ends for "grab" but I trust the pin more than the bar. And, there was a post in this thread from someone who uses the pin to lift his box. He has thousands of posts here so I trust his judgement, not that I don't trust others.

The highest it will ever be off the ground will be when I lift it out of my truck. Even then I will just pick it up an inch or 2 and then drive my truck away. After that, if I have to move it, it will be just a few inches off the ground.

Tomorrow morning I visit the plant for filling. It will sit for 8 hours before my drive home and I will leave it my truck for a day or 2 before I lift out.

 

[dcyrilc]

I did start another thread but my question of using the top pin to lift it never got answered and I wanted a quick answer. And, my internet ettiquette sucks.

I have duct taped the seams. The light was shining through. Good tip right there. Thanks.

I am going to go with just the pin for lifting it. It's a 3/4" pin. I did buy a 36" length of 1/2" rebar and I flared the ends for "grab" but I trust the pin more than the bar. And, there was a post in this thread from someone who uses the pin to lift his box. He has thousands of posts here so I trust his judgement, not that I don't trust others.

The highest it will ever be off the ground will be when I lift it out of my truck. Even then I will just pick it up an inch or 2 and then drive my truck away. After that, if I have to move it, it will be just a few inches off the ground.

Tomorrow morning I visit the plant for filling. It will sit for 8 hours before my drive home and I will leave it my truck for a day or 2 before I lift out.

By the next morning it will be plenty well set for lifting out if you are using the top link pin. The only reason to wait more than 24hrs is if you are going to use the rebar.

 

[Runner]

I didn't have any problems lifting mine by the pin.

 

[JB4310]

I didn't have any problems lifting mine by the pin.

That box is filled with concrete? if so that's incredible that your loader could lift that so far out at the end of the boom. quite the testament to the booms strength also.

.

 

[Willl]

That box is filled with concrete?

Can't be.

The 200cx lift limit at the pin is little less then 800#.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

O.K....The box was filled yesterday morning and I left it at the cement over night. They picked it up by the pin and put it in my truck. I did put a 1/2 inch rebar in the center but won't use it for lifting for a couple of weeks.

Now my question is..... Am I going to flatten my tires or break an axle by lifting it out of my truck.?? It weighs roughly 550lbs.

I won't have ballast of the back of my tractor.

 

[ChrsDrn]

The highest it will ever be off the ground will be when I lift it out of my truck. Even then I will just pick it up an inch or 2 and then drive my truck away. After that, if I have to move it, it will be just a few inches off the ground.

I would not get off tractor with load in the air and no ballast, I have had my rear tires come off the ground doing this luckly I had it in 4wd at the time since I was on a hill.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Well folks....The box is out of my truck. Un-real.!!!.......

I shouldn't admit to any of this but, here goes....

I've had a tire on my truck going slack (rear). At lunch I checked the tire and it was going slack. So, I waisted no time and took the truck with the loaded ballast box home to un-load it.

Bucket wouldn't pick it up. Great.

So, I throttled up and the bucket would get it up about an inch up but, it would curl back down. Keep in mind I came over the truck bed from the side with the bucket. I wanted to simply lift the box a couple inches and leave the tractor to drive the truck ahead, leaving the box hanging.

I ended up having to slide the box back, out of the truck, on the chain. When it cleared the tailgate let me tell you....freakin' shake, rattle and thank God nothing rolled.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hopped out of my truck, jumped on the tractor and and slowly lowered the box to the ground. And that's where she sits right now, right in the middle of my driveway. That box is heavy.

The tractor (bucket) did hold the box off the ground at about 4 feet long enough for me to lower it.

I was scared. I am a rookie. It had to come out. Now I wonder if my 3pt. hitch will lift it.??

Job accomplished but it wasn't pretty believe you me.!!!!