Hydraulic side link for BX series tractors

[91diesel]

Anyone seen, or bought the hydraulic side link for BX series available from Messicks?
(https://www.messicks.com/parts/wrlong/ttkubx2680-sl)

Of course they want a small fortune for it ($650). I have already made a hydraulic top link for my BX23s. I put a spool valve on the ROPS to operate it. I bought a 2 stick spool valve when I did it (because it was actually cheaper than a single version. So adding a hydraulic side link is now just plug and play. I'm thinking it will make the rear blade (and box blade) much more versatile when removing snow just like the top link did.
I tried searching around for a hydraulic ram that's close to those dimensions....... but there doesn't seem to be one
(2" Cylinder 13-1/4 to 16-1/4 ), plus the BX's weird angled side link ends ...... probably explains the $650. It's only good for this!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

A couple of things to know about that unit. It is designed to be fully retracted to have the implement level, so you will get no downward tilt to the left side. Pretty hard to make a unit that short and provide an equal amount of tilt to both sides and still have some lift capability. Purchase it without the hose kit, the hoses are one foot too long and have the wrong size couplers for the factory application as it mentions.
Since you have made your own rear remote set, I would get the hoses after the side link purchase and get what you need, not what is provided.

 

[91diesel]

Thanks for the response. Yeah I was wondering about the hoses, I'd get some low temperature ones for up here anyway and they'd definitely need to be longer than a foot. I think I could work around the 'level' implement problem and being able to adjust on the fly sounds like it would make it more useful than 'guessing' each time I get off the tractor. I set my top link up with pioneer connectors and would just do the same here, a little messier but they don't 'hydro lock' near as bad as the flat face ones do. I think I may bite the bullet on this (unless shipping is another $400). I saw that Summit makes a side link that looks like it'll fit the BX. It's shortest length is 13" (1/4" shorter than the Messiks one) but only extends to 15". It would be cheaper...... but the Messiks one would be more useful for ditches I would think with it's longer extension.