Bent hydraulic top link.

[Nicfin36]

I thought I would try a hydraulic top link on my L2501. I bought one listed as a Category 1 top link. I hooked it up to my box blade and cycled the cylinder and it immediately bent as I extended it.

Are these things that weak or is there something I should not have done?

 

[RCW]

Ouch.....no clue, but it looks like something I would do....

Was this done just by extending the cylinder, and rocking the BB back? BB wasn't engaged in digging at the time?

Doesn't seem like that should happen.

Guys with T-n-T may be of help.

 

[Nicfin36]

Ouch.....no clue, but it looks like something I would do....

Was this done just by extending the cylinder, and rocking the BB back? BB wasn't engaged in digging at the time?

Doesn't seem like that should happen.

Guys with T-n-T may be of help.

The tractor was parked and I had just hooked up the top link to the tractor and extended it enough to hook into the box blade and was cycling it to get the air out of the lines. I lifted the box blade off the ground and extended the cylinder out and it bent.

 

[RCW]

The tractor was parked and I had just hooked up the top link to the tractor and extended it enough to hook into the box blade and was cycling it to get the air out of the lines. I lifted the box blade off the ground and extended the cylinder out and it bent.

The BB was lifted when it bent?!?!?!

Is the rod made from baloney?!?!?!

Holy smokes....no experience with T-n-T, but lots with hydraulic cylinders.....something doesn't seem right.

 

[eserv]

The BB was lifted when it bent?!?!?!

Is the rod made from baloney?!?!?!

Holy smokes....no experience with T-n-T, but lots with hydraulic cylinders.....something doesn't seem right.

Lets have a picture of how the cylinder was attached. There is evidence on the right side above the pin that the it contacted something.

 

[Nicfin36]

The BB was lifted when it bent?!?!?!

Is the rod made from baloney?!?!?!

Holy smokes....no experience with T-n-T, but lots with hydraulic cylinders.....something doesn't seem right.

Yeah, I lifted the box blade in the air, cycled it out, and as I was cycling the cylinder back in, I noticed it had bent.

OK, I just wanted to confirm I wasn't crazy in my thinking. I realize that the cylinder would be weaker extended out, but NEVER intended to actually use it extended like that.

 

[Matt Ellerbee]

Dang.

What cylinder is it?

 

[Nicfin36]

Lets have a picture of how the cylinder was attached. There is evidence on the right side above the pin that the it contacted something.

Yes, you are correct. I just looked at the brace on the box blade where it is welded up near the top link hole on the box blade, and it did contact the cylinder where the paint is gone. Perhaps, it created some sort of extra leverage? Not sure.

 

[Nicfin36]

Dang.

What cylinder is it?

I bought it from Surpluscenter.com.

2x11x1.18 Category 1 Hydraulic Double Acting Top Link Cylinder AMA 06004

 

[Henro]

Lets have a picture of how the cylinder was attached. There is evidence on the right side above the pin that the it contacted something.

I‘m with Everv. Although I don’t see the evidence.

Having trouble seeing how a box bade hanging in the air off the 3PH arms could cause this. Almost like the cylinder was hitting something, as it’s angle changed.

edit, I guess I think and type slow...

 

[Nicfin36]

OK, I hooked the top link back onto the box blade. I guess when I extended the cylinder out, it contacted the bracing on the box blade and there was enough upwards force on the cylinder rod to bend it. That is my guess anyway. If so, my mistake. Live and learn.

 

[Matt Ellerbee]

OK, I hooked the top link back onto the box blade. I guess when I extended the cylinder out, it contacted the bracing on the box blade and there was enough upwards force on the cylinder rod to bend it. That is my guess anyway. If so, my mistake. Live and learn.

There ya go. Does it still work, in and out? I’d keep using it till a problem showed itself.

Or a hydraulic shop may be able to straighten that and internally limit the throw a bit.

 

[Nicfin36]

There ya go. Does it still work, in and out? I’d keep using it till a problem showed itself.

Or a hydraulic shop may be able to straighten that and internally limit the throw a bit.

It still works. I am not sure how long it would last like that.

 

[nota4re]

I'm almost certain that you purchased the wrong top link as well. You got the 6004 which has 11" of travel and I think you really want the 6003 with 8" of travel. Here's a link to the 6003: https://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydra...ing-Top-Link-Cylinder-AMA-06003-9-7682-08.axd

The good news is that the 6003 is also a little less expensive.

 

[eserv]

I'm almost certain that you purchased the wrong top link as well. You got the 6004 which has 11" of travel and I think you really want the 6003 with 8" of travel. Here's a link to the 6003: https://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydra...ing-Top-Link-Cylinder-AMA-06003-9-7682-08.axd

The good news is that the 6003 is also a little less expensive.

You really don't need a lot of travel on a top link.

 

[old and tired]

I would be very much incline to flip that top link over and slowly repeat the bend in the opposite direction. ...That's just me...

 

[Nicfin36]

I'm almost certain that you purchased the wrong top link as well. You got the 6004 which has 11" of travel and I think you really want the 6003 with 8" of travel. Here's a link to the 6003: https://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydra...ing-Top-Link-Cylinder-AMA-06003-9-7682-08.axd

The good news is that the 6003 is also a little less expensive.

Welllll, I'm gonna confess. I actually bought the 6003 first and then thought the 6004 was the one I needed and ordered it. I was gonna send the first one back. My reasoning was the body of the top link on the 6004 was longer and I would not have to extend it out as far as the 6003. But, I did that test extension, which I would normally never do using it for work and caused the situation. The way the box blade was made with the brace so close to the pin hole did not help matters either. It looks like I will use the other one now. And, perhaps others can learn from my mistake.

 

[Nicfin36]

I would be very much incline to flip that top link over and slowly repeat the bend in the opposite direction. ...That's just me...

That's not a bad idea!

 

[Matt Ellerbee]

That's not a bad idea!

There ya go! Get it close to straight, it’ll last forever! Maybe.

 

[Matt Ellerbee]

That's not a bad idea!

Was thinking about this some more, I would flip and straighten best you could. Then put that cylinder on a blade or landscape rake or something that isn’t used a whole bunch, but would still be nice to have hydraulic angle/movement.