Need some ideas for top link

[Fastball]

Just switched from a QH to a Pat’s system. My only issue is my homemade ballast barrel. I had a chain embedded in the barrel‘s cement looped over the top hook of the QH as a ”top link” attachment. Now with the Pat’s, I don’t have that attach point anymore. What would be acceptable ways to attach that chain to the end of my top link? Are there some kind of hooks that can attach onto the end of the top link? Shackles? It’s a 1.5” gap. Any ideas?
Basically attach one to the other...

 

[D2Cat]

Well, I'd offer something but my brain only thinks in pictures, not words!

 

[Fastball]

Well, I'd offer something but my brain only thinks in pictures, not words!

Well, I'd offer something but my brain only thinks in pictures, not words!

Picture now attached to help your brain.

 

[ctfjr]

How about drilling a hole and anchoring an eye in the barrel, then use as a conventional top link?

 

[bcp]

Drawbar hook

Hook For Drawbar On Tractor 3/4

This is a replacement hook for a draw bar on a 3/4 inch tractor with a thickness up to 1-5/8 inch thickness. Can handle the use of a 5/16 inch to 1/2 inch chain

www.agrisupply.com

Bruce

 

[Fastball]

Drawbar hook

Hook For Drawbar On Tractor 3/4

This is a replacement hook for a draw bar on a 3/4 inch tractor with a thickness up to 1-5/8 inch thickness. Can handle the use of a 5/16 inch to 1/2 inch chain

www.agrisupply.com

Bruce

Looked at that already. Gonna have to take a grinder and shave about an eighth off something so the top link can slide in.

 

[Fastball]

How about drilling a hole and anchoring an eye in the barrel, then use as a conventional top link?

Not a 100% for sure what you mean. How would an eye help?

 

[ctfjr]

Not a 100% for sure what you mean. How would an eye help?

Unless I'm not understanding the problem (very possible), the OP wants to attach his top link to the top of his ballast barrel. If he has an eye sticking up couldn't something like this:

be used to connect to a conventional top link

 

[D2Cat]

Fastball, I'm going to throw you a curve! See ctfjr's post #8? Take a piece of metal and form a "U" like he shows and weld it to the two steel bolts/studs sticking up in the concrete. Form as needed and make sure the open end goes over the top link swivel.

 

[bucktail]

Fastball, I'm going to throw you a curve! See ctfjr's post #8? Take a piece of metal and form a "U" like he shows and weld it to the two steel bolts/studs sticking up in the concrete. Form as needed and make sure the open end goes over the top link swivel.

Or buy a clevis.

 

[marrmanu]

something like this?

 

[marrmanu]

or this don't know if your chain is long enough

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

What about a simple shackle?

https://www.uscargocontrol.com/SSP%20Applications/Clickstop/images/products/SPAS12.01.jpg?resizeid=13&resizeh=1200&resizew=1200

 

[Fastball]

What about a simple shackle?
View attachment 53632

https://www.uscargocontrol.com/SSP%20Applications/Clickstop/images/products/SPAS12.01.jpg?resizeid=13&resizeh=1200&resizew=1200

that shackle would need a 1.5 inch opening between the eyes, no? To fit on the end of the top link.

 

[aaluck]

Just switched from a QH to a Pat’s system. My only issue is my homemade ballast barrel. I

Im confused--which is not uncommon. It you have a QH the top link is rigid and moves up and down because it is held up by the QH. The Pats, as I understand it, leaves the top link just hanging there.

SOOOOO, my question is are you going to drag this? How wiii the top link 'pick it up'? Sorry for the stupid question but just trying to figure this out.

 

[Fastball]

Unless I'm not understanding the problem (very possible), the OP wants to attach his top link to the top of his ballast barrel. If he has an eye sticking up couldn't something like this:
View attachment 53612
be used to connect to a conventional top link

I could just attach that to my top link ith a 3/4” pin, and run my chain through it, hiw thick would that metal need to be? 3/16? 1/4”? It doesn't need to lift anything...merely to keep the top of the ballast barrel from swinging.

 

[Fastball]

Im confused--which is not uncommon. It you have a QH the top link is rigid and moves up and down because it is held up by the QH. The Pats, as I understand it, leaves the top link just hanging there.

SOOOOO, my question is are you going to drag this? How wiii the top link 'pick it up'? Sorry for the stupid question but just trying to figure this out.

I had a QH with its rigid hook. I had a chain embedded in the concrete of the ballast barrel, and it merely looped onto the QH’s hook. All it does is prevent the barrel from swinging as it’s being picked up by the tractor’s 3-point arms. Now with the Pat’s, the rigid hook is gone and I have to use the tractor’s top link. My quandary is what to loop that chain onto now? I’m either going to try the metal loop in post #8, or try to drill some eyebolts down into the cement of the barrel and see if I can thread a toplink pin through those.

 

[RCW]

What about something like this? Still a variation of post #8.

Maybe a through bolt on the “tongue” side to fasten the chain to the adapter, then just pin the U side to the top link....

 

[Fastball]

What about something like this? Still a variation of post #8.

View attachment 53643

Maybe a through bolt on the “tongue” side to fasten the chain to the adapter, then just pin the U side to the top link....

Yup, I have one of those. As you said, will have to try to find a way to shackle the chain to the hole. Or just get a skinnier chain and feed it thru....haha.

 

[bcp]

I would put in anchors in the concrete and make a rigid connection for the top link. Maybe two parallel angle irons.

It sounds like the barrel could flop forward and backwards twice the length of the chain, if you simply hooked the top link to the chain.

Bruce