Category 1/2 3-point?

[Rip]

Hey, I've got a MX5400 which has a cat 1/2 3-point. I checked and the top link pins are 3/4" and lift arms are 1" so, does being a cat 1/2 mean that he lift arms are cat 2 and the top link is cat 1? Reason being, I'm looking for a hydraulic top link and obviously need to know which cat I will need to get. I'm assuming I need a cat 1 top link? Obviously, I'm not a tractor guru...lol.

Thanks.

 

[D2Cat]

The dimensions you list are for cat. 1, lift arm and top line.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Hey, I've got a MX5400 which has a cat 1/2 3-point. I checked and the top link pins are 3/4" and lift arms are 1" so, does being a cat 1/2 mean that he lift arms are cat 2 and the top link is cat 1? Reason being, I'm looking for a hydraulic top link and obviously need to know which cat I will need to get. I'm assuming I need a cat 1 top link? Obviously, I'm not a tractor guru...lol.

Thanks.

AFAIK the standard is:

Category 1: 7/8" lift pins, 3/4"" top link pin
Category 2 : 1-1/8" lift pins, 1" top link pin

Dan

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Technically your tractor is a cat 1-2. you can use either cat 1 or cat 2 implements. The tractor should have come with reducer bushings for the 3 implement pins to get down to cat 1 sizes.

The only off the shelf cat 1-2 top links that I know of have the wrong over all working length for your tractor.
I normally provide a 2 1/2" dia cylinder with a 1 1/2" dia rod with a 23 1/4"- 35 1/4" working length.
Unfortunately my lead times are a minimum of 36 weeks at this time.

If you want an off the shelf top link, I would look at this one and just grind down the ball swivels to 1 3/4" and use a reducer bushing.

Good luck.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I don't get this CAT1-2 nonsense...

IF the tractor has a rockshaft / top link hole of 3/4" it is a CAT 1.
If the hole is 1", it's a CAT 2.
That's what the spec says, well maybe, it used to.....

Yes, a tractor with CAT2 can use CAT 1 implements, heck even use CAT0 WITH the appropriate adapters...
Same deal for a CAT3 tractor...it can use CAT3, CAT2, CAT1 or CAT0 implements....
What you can't do is use a LARGER 'CAT' implement on a SMALLER 'CAT' tractor

Calling a tractor CAT1/2 or CAT2/1 is silly and adds a LOT of confusion.

 

[Rip]

I don't get this CAT1-2 nonsense...

IF the tractor has a rockshaft / top link hole of 3/4" it is a CAT 1.
If the hole is 1", it's a CAT 2.
That's what the spec says, well maybe, it used to.....

Yes, a tractor with CAT2 can use CAT 1 implements, heck even use CAT0 WITH the appropriate adapters...
Same deal for a CAT3 tractor...it can use CAT3, CAT2, CAT1 or CAT0 implements....
What you can't do is use a LARGER 'CAT' implement on a SMALLER 'CAT' tractor

Calling a tractor CAT1/2 or CAT2/1 is silly and adds a LOT of confusion.

Yeah, I don't get it either. The specs for the tractor list it as having a Cat 1/2 3-point hitch (it's a 2021 model) and after taking my caliper to it, the 2 lift arm pin holes are 1" and the connection pin hole(s) on the tractor itself for the top link is 3/4". Thats where I was getting confused. So, for whatever reason Kubota had for doing it, the top link connection point to the tractor is Cat 1 but the two lift arm connections are Cat 2. The hassle is finding a hydraulic top link with a Cat 1 on the tractor end and a Cat 2 on the implement end. I looked one up and, of course, it was one of the most expensive ones.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Maybe use a CAT1 toplink with CAT2-1 bushings on the implement end (use 3/4" pin on the implement ).
see how well that works.....
if you just have to have a 1-2 hybrid, cut off the cylinder end and weld on a CAT1 end.... that will be cheaper than a 'real' one.....

 

[Rip]

Maybe use a CAT1 toplink with CAT2-1 bushings on the implement end (use 3/4" pin on the implement ).
see how well that works.....
if you just have to have a 1-2 hybrid, cut off the cylinder end and weld on a CAT1 end.... that will be cheaper than a 'real' one.....

it's setup for Cat 2 implements so I'll just bite the bullet and order the Cat 1/2 so I'll have the same setup I've got now just with a hydraulic top link instead of a manual. I usually end up making things worse for myself trying to make things fit instead of just getting what I need from the start. Thanks.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

seems like a good ,but $$$, solution...

The 'overall' generic problem I have is that it is possible you could have a HEAVY CAT2 implement and BREAK the CAT1 side of the tractor rockshaft unit.

There was a previous post 2-3 weeks ago, guy destroyed his tractor with a bush hog hauling on a trailer ......
I know NOT the exact same thing but yeesh, a '1-2' tractor just sounds like it WANTS to be overloaded.....

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't get this CAT1-2 nonsense...

IF the tractor has a rockshaft / top link hole of 3/4" it is a CAT 1.
If the hole is 1", it's a CAT 2.
That's what the spec says, well maybe, it used to.....

Yes, a tractor with CAT2 can use CAT 1 implements, heck even use CAT0 WITH the appropriate adapters...
Same deal for a CAT3 tractor...it can use CAT3, CAT2, CAT1 or CAT0 implements....
What you can't do is use a LARGER 'CAT' implement on a SMALLER 'CAT' tractor

Calling a tractor CAT1/2 or CAT2/1 is silly and adds a LOT of confusion.

Kubota has some 100+ HP tractors that have a 3/4" pin for the top link end at the tractor.
Do you think that they should simply call that tractor a cat 1 tractor?

After all, the 3pt hitch will only pick up in excess of 8000lbs at the link ends.

 

[Rip]

seems like a good ,but $$$, solution...

The 'overall' generic problem I have is that it is possible you could have a HEAVY CAT2 implement and BREAK the CAT1 side of the tractor rockshaft unit.

There was a previous post 2-3 weeks ago, guy destroyed his tractor with a bush hog hauling on a trailer ......
I know NOT the exact same thing but yeesh, a '1-2' tractor just sounds like it WANTS to be overloaded.....

Yeah, it doesn't make sense to be either. But the only thing I can think of is that the top link generally doesn't have the same stress applied to it as the main lift arms do. The top link is used to tilt the implement forward or back, but the arms are really what carry the weight and push/pull stresses from the implement.
Thanks again and take care.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: Do you think that they should simply call that tractor a cat 1 tractor?

yes, as that's what the link is rated for....

there was a previous post 2-3 weeks ago about how a tractor was destroyed (rockshaft and diff cases) probably from a simply bump with a bushhog on it going to be trailered.

in that case,sadly, it was the weakest link.....

 

[jimr63]

Kubota has some 100+ HP tractors that have a 3/4" pin for the top link end at the tractor.
Do you think that they should simply call that tractor a cat 1 tractor?

After all, the 3pt hitch will only pick up in excess of 8000lbs at the link ends.

Same here. My M5-091 is cat 1 on the tractor side of the top link. I have a bushing on that end to reduce my cat2 hydraulic top link down to cat1.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

The shear strength of a typical 3/4" cat 1 pin is in excess of 30,000psi.

So you feel that your BX has the same strength as the M5 111? If all the lift ratings were based on the top link pin strength, then you are correct, those 2 tractors should have the same rating. Actually the BX is stronger because the length of that 3/4" pin is shorter.

But that is not how they are rated, where everything is based off of the top link pin.

For the BX it is most likely the 2nd strongest point of the hitch, where as with the M5 it is most likely the weakest point.

Doesn't really matter what any of us think it should be, it is what it is and most likely will stay as it is.

 

[GeoHorn]

My lift arms are reversible…i.E…. remove, swap end-for-end…and it’s no longer Cat 1 …it’s CAT 2.

Top link is always Cat 2 but has a bushing for Cat 1 toplinks.