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Read articles →A practical owner-experience rundown of six buying considerations before ordering a hydraulic top link: whether it has a locking block, Cat 1 vs. Cat 2 sizing (with a clear recommendation to stick with Cat 1 even on a Cat 2 tractor), measuring your open/close span, end-fitting compatibility with quick attaches, bushing needs, and rear SCV availability. Grounded in real mistakes the creator made. Best for first-time buyers comparing options.
Posted by the Kapper Outdoors Modern homestead channel, an owner-operator sharing hands-on impressions from their own equipment and property.
Stick with Cat 1 even if you have a Cat 2 tractor. Most implements are Cat 1 anyway, and the hydraulic power rating is basically the same between Cat 1 and Cat 2 top links.
Without a locking block, the hydraulic sags and slowly releases pressure once you let go, changing the angle you set instead of holding it in place.
Yes, you need at least two sets of rear SCVs, one to operate other hydraulic implements like a grading tool and one to operate the top link tilt.
Cat 2 connectors are too big for a Cat 1 top link, so you need Cat 1 to Cat 2 bushings, or a smaller pin with a bushing, to make it fit.
