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missing 3 pt top links?

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Boog

02-23-2005 06:32:01

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Why do I see so many tractors for sale with the 3 pt top links missing????? ????? ??? I think the answer is that people leave them hanging on implements instead of on the tractor - I have seen this. But the question is WHY????? I was always taught the link was part of the tractor not the implement. In fact, I don't know of any implements that one could buy new that come with a top link attached. I can't imagine it has anything to do with laziness or ease of disconnection as pulling the pin at the tractor is no different than pulling it at the implement. What's up with this practice?????

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Leroy

02-25-2005 13:46:18

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

When Dad mought my 2N Ford New in May of 44 the tractor would have only come with the cross drawbar and stay straps, the top link would have been bought seperate for use with the plow bought at same time as tractor. If tractor was only to be used on drawbar was no use spending the extra money on the top link, that same top link still fits all the cat 1 hitches today so it is universal, problem came about when manufactures started making model specific top links and then they started to put a cary bracket on tractor, but they still got destroyed so if the farmer had more than one tractor that would use that link then he started switching it around to till it was no longer any good and got anouther tractor that used a different link

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Don-Wi

02-24-2005 06:16:37

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

I agree with the others, and we always leave the top link hanging on our blade that we use on our 165. We also use the same link on our 4-row cultivator that we hang on our 285. Our 1600 has the integral one, but we always left the arms off because they hit the pto shaft on the green chopper. The one link we have MAY have come with the 285 when my dad bought it, as it was a rental at the dealer for about a year before hand and that"s how he used it in the first place. The 1600 did however come with it"s own link as it actually is part of the tractor, along w/ 1550-1655"s, and I think White 2-70"s also use the same link. I"ve seen many of those though w/out the link though.
Donovan from Wisconsin

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Jonboy

02-23-2005 20:02:18

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

I see some posts for $300 replacment top links!, sheesh, I can go to the local agco dealer and get a universal plane jane top link for $35 and thats what I have on my tractors. I really can't imagine anyone paying $300 for one when you could get one for a fraction of the cost, but I suppose those $35 ones are functional, but they wouldn't look quite as good as the factory one would. If you do anything besides 3pt stuff the toplink needs to be removed, and sometimes the 3pt arms are best taken off, especially if you never use it. Most farmers never use the 3pt on their tractors, therefor something to rattle and bang over bumps and something for the pto shaft to hit on tight turns with a drawn impliment, my machines are the opposite and it's rare I use the drawbar.

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Butcher

02-23-2005 19:46:28

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

Gosh, now that you mention it, years ago when my kids were born they didnt have any diapers on. Now that I think about it neither did my grandkids.

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mike in New Mexico

02-23-2005 16:42:04

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

My John Deere 730 top link cost about 300 dollars to replace it ! Thats why if you buy a 730, most of the time the top link is gone because the owner can get extra cash for it on ebay. my opinion- mike

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Robert in W. Mi.

02-23-2005 16:01:27

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

I've bought tractors "with", and "with out" top links, and i've also sold tractors with and with out them!!

Every new tractor i've bought came "with" a top link. Also, my NH sickle mower came "with" a top link!! But, most tools don't.

Robert

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Mike M

02-23-2005 13:03:00

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

They have been known to GROW LEGS and walk off too !

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Leroy

02-23-2005 11:54:36

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

Why would you want that top link hanging around battering around and getting in the way all the time for no use and no I do not think they came with the tractor, you had to buy them as an extra, you did not need them for drawbar work so why get or have in the way if you didn't need them

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Allan in NE

02-23-2005 12:32:58

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Leroy, 02-23-2005 11:54:36

Hi Leroy,

I don't know about other makes, 'cause the only new tractors I've ever bought were International Row Crops.

But, they always came with an owner's manual, a tool box, lug wrench, the 4' lug wrench extension and the center link, which is a normal part of the 3-point.

Dunno,

Allan

third party image

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Allan in NE

02-23-2005 11:30:28

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

Hi Boog,

We didn't see this much until the "iron maidens" got into the act; it used to be that the tractor always sold with it's center link. It is just another way of squeezing another few dollars out of the tractor, in my opinion.

I've bought two tractors without the center link and felt I got "cheated" both times. When you figure it is going to crowd something like $250 dollars to replace the thing, it kinda leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Allan

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TomTX

02-23-2005 06:55:11

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

Simple. You see so many tractors for sale without the toplink, because people keep the toplink. Tractor brings the same money without the toplink, so they just keep it for their own use in the future.

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Mike (WA)

02-23-2005 08:17:12

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to TomTX, 02-23-2005 06:55:11

Exactly. I have never bought a tractor that came with a top link (except an Oliver 1550, on which it is integral), nor have I ever sold one with the top link. I didn't even realize they ever came with their own top link until I saw it on this board. Every top link I have on the place was purchased at the local farm store.

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ShepFL

02-23-2005 09:11:23

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Mike (WA), 02-23-2005 08:17:12

DITTO on that one!

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rettchr

02-23-2005 06:49:34

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to Boog, 02-23-2005 06:32:01

1. Different implements may have different top-link lengths for optimum performance, Keeping the top-link of the right length on the implement eliminates having to readjust it when changing from scraper blade to mower to ...
2. On the MF 165 I had there was no easy way to restrain the top-link on the tractor if it was not in use. For mowing hay, baling, etc. taking the top link off kept it from thumping against the PTO shaft.

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Ken Macfarlane

02-23-2005 07:10:56

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Re: missing 3 pt top links? in reply to rettchr, 02-23-2005 06:49:34

We have cat 1 and 2 on one end of the top links and cat 2 on the tractor side. We swap em out all the time for whatever implement we are using. With 2 tractors this means toplinks go back and forth between them.

Same case as the previous poster for removing, they bang into stuff if free hanging.

Ken

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