Bent top link?

[skinnypez]

Hey all...very noob tractor owner here.

Dealer dropped off my B2650 with Rotary Cutter attached after mentioning at the dealer during their educational walk-around after we purchased that it was ready to use.

I mowed about 4 acres of level ground with no ditches or anything and then parked the tractor in garage with rotary cutter lowered so the tail wheel was on the ground.

When I went to back the tractor out of the garage today to move some stuff with the loader, I noticed a slight angle in the top link; I was very going very slow when mowing and like I said, there are no ditches or anything too un-level on my land that I think would have caused this...perhaps I shouldn't have parked it with tailwheel on the ground?

I guess my first question would be is this bend in the toplink a big deal if I'm only going to be using a rotary cutter on the rear for the foreseeable future? Second, any ideas what might have caused this damage?

Thanks for any assistance you can offer!

 

[skinnypez]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Here are some pics of my setup.

 

[whitetiger]

Raise your three-point and I think you will see that the centerlink hit the ROPS which you have folded down.

 

[groomerbuck]

You have your rops folded down. The top link hits the rops when lifting the 3point hitch. Thats what bent your top link. Its a poor design

 

[rkidd]

You have your rops folded down. The top link hits the rops when lifting the 3point hitch. Thats what bent your top link. Its a poor design

Yup what he said. Happened to me and my neighbor also!!

 

[skinnypez]

Ah...yes...my dealer even mentioned that on the walk-through...pity I didn't remember until now!

Thanks for the quick replies.

Anybody have any recommendations on brand or where to but replacement? I know Kubota replacements are stupid expensive...my dealer mentioned that, too.

 

[Jim L.]

Farm supply, farm and ranch supply, tractor supply - these places carry top links.

 

[whitetiger]

Ah...yes...my dealer even mentioned that on the walk-through...pity I didn't remember until now!

Thanks for the quick replies.

Anybody have any recommendations on brand or where to but replacement? I know Kubota replacements are stupid expensive...my dealer mentioned that, too.

Complete assembly from Coleman Equipment is $52.77. I really would not call that stupid expensive when the "will fit, kinda work" ones will be $40.00 or more.

 

[sdk1968]

yep you hit the folded ROPS....

has happened to many of us here ... including me.


go to tractor supply or rural king & buy the heavier one for $19 & paint it orange if it bothers ya.

 

[100 td]

Glue a couple of rubber blocks onto the ROPS so when it folds down it rests on the rubber blocks and doesn't come down as far and will stay out of the way for your implement.

 

[skinnypez]

Complete assembly from Coleman Equipment is $52.77. I really would not call that stupid expensive when the "will fit, kinda work" ones will be $40.00 or more.

$52.77 isn't too bad at all- for some reason I was thinking he was talking $100+...I will check out Coleman for sure

 

[bcp]

About 5 years ago I did that, but it bound on the top link adapter on a quick hitch, that I had left flipped the wrong way when not using it.

I took the top link off at the rear, turned it over with the top link bend turned the other way, and carefully repeated the lift to bend it back straight.

Still using it and it works fine.

Bruce

 

[200mph]

You can buy Cat 1 top links locally for much cheaper and will function the same.

As someone else said a number of places will carry these in stock. Tractor Supply is one place and here's the link for reference. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-adjustable-top-link-cat-1?cm_vc=-10005

Even Harbor Freight carries them.

Price at Tractor Supply is a whopping $21.99.

 

[CapnDean]

stick a hydraulic top link in there. For a hundred bucks or so you can adjust on the fly. Worth its weight in gold when box blading.

 

[In Utopia]

stick a hydraulic top link in there. For a hundred bucks or so you can adjust on the fly. Worth its weight in gold when box blading.

X2
Don't know how I ever did without it on my Ford 640.
Don't need one on my L175, it just carries a ballast box.

 

[nickelplated5s]

stick a hydraulic top link in there. For a hundred bucks or so you can adjust on the fly. Worth its weight in gold when box blading.

X2 but you will need to have hoses made up too. I used fuel line to mock up the routing and length. 90's off the cylinder worked well.

 

[johnjk]

Did the same on my B3200. Dealer neglected that and most other operational aspects when I bought my B used. Now with my new shade, I do not put the ROPS all the way down but still need to purchase a replacement from Rural King or TSC. I use a quick hitch out back and was able to dial it in to the position I need and lock it down so not too worried about having to adjust it now. Will need that feature when I start using my box blade.

I like the idea of the hydraulic link, but would I need to run additional controls on my B for that?