Stabalizer is sagging.

[dickfoster]

This is a new tractor and it looks like one of the stabilizers for the backhoe is slowly sagging due to some slight valve or cylinder leakage. It's taken about four days for the cylinder to move 2 or 3 inches. I assume this is normal.
I was thinking of putting a ratchet strap from one foot to the other to help hold them up or is there a better solution? I don't want to go out and start the tractor for a few minutes every few days just to crank the stabilizer back up into place. That is a waste of fuel and probably isn't good for the engine. Of course the one that sags is going to contact the house if I just leave it and there is no room to put it down on the ground where it's parked. I lower the front bucket and the backhoe has pins to hold it in place unless it's being used but there are no pins for the stabilizers.

 

[JerryK]

Mine leaks down a little overnight or two, and the bucket sags down some, too... The proper procedure is to lower the stabilizers down to the ground and swing the boom down until the bucket is sitting on the ground, for safety/kids playing with the controls/etc. But I just start the tractor then press both stab levers to make sure they are all the way up, then rotate the bucket back up if needed. They usually don't move any during the day, just if sitting for a couple days. I chain my stabs together before I put the hoe on the cart for the winter. You could put a strap on them, but just as easy to develop a procedure that you go thru each day to check over the tractor after you start it. But strap it if you want... whatever works for you..

 

[dickfoster]

Mine leaks down a little overnight or two, and the bucket sags down some, too... The proper procedure is to lower the stabilizers down to the ground and swing the boom down until the bucket is sitting on the ground, for safety/kids playing with the controls/etc. But I just start the tractor then press both stab levers to make sure they are all the way up, then rotate the bucket back up if needed. They usually don't move any during the day, just if sitting for a couple days. I chain my stabs together before I put the hoe on the cart for the winter. You could put a strap on them, but just as easy to develop a procedure that you go thru each day to check over the tractor after you start it. But strap it if you want... whatever works for you..

Yeah I figured it was normal for them to leak down a little. I'll try the rachet strap because it's easier. If that doesn't work, I'll chain it or put a bar across to hold them up. I can't lower them to the ground due to space constraints where I have it parked and I'd rather keep it where it is because it's a bit more protected than the RV shed and it's also out of sight.
What kind of storage cart do you have rigged up for your hoe? The dealer said it wasn't such a great idea to leave them sitting on the ground but to make up a pallet or a box or something. I don't think I'll be using this tractor every day and I may be taking the hoe off for the winter months to make pushing snow around a bit easier.

 

[JerryK]

Made a dolly several years ago for my 595 hoe.. Do a search on this forum area for 595 cart ...

 

[Billrog]

Evidently there are lock-out valves to prevent cylinders from leaking down never use one so can't give you any details.

 

[4570Man]

I put a strap across the stabilizers when I store the backhoe for long periods.

 

[yanmars]

I strap mine also.

 

[dickfoster]

Made a dolly several years ago for my 595 hoe.. Do a search on this forum area for 595 cart ...

Very fancy! Maybe I'll knock something together out of PT wood. I won't need casters since they won't roll on gravel anyway. I'll stash mine in the RV shed.

 

[dickfoster]

I put a strap across the stabilizers when I store the backhoe for long periods.

That's exactly what I was fixing to do.

 

[dickfoster]

So make it three.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Didn't you say that you had an 'oil' leak? Have you verified that it's not hydro fluid? That would exacerbate the bh stabilizer and boom drop.

Check all your hose connections for tightness.

 

[dickfoster]

Didn't you say that you had an 'oil' leak? Have you verified that it's not hydro fluid? That would exacerbate the bh stabilizer and boom drop.

Check all your hose connections for tightness.

Nope, not yet anyway. Don't worry I'll get around to crawling around it with my wrenches any day now. I don't think this is anything to fret over. I just strapped them both together and up with a rachet strap so no worries.

 

[4570Man]

Didn't you say that you had an 'oil' leak? Have you verified that it's not hydro fluid? That would exacerbate the bh stabilizer and boom drop. Check all your hose connections for tightness.

My tractor doesn't leak oil, but it still leaks down. The cylinder seals and the valve aren't 100% percent sealed and allow some oil to past causing leak down.

 

[oldpilgrim]

My tractor doesn't leak oil, but it still leaks down. The cylinder seals and the valve aren't 100% percent sealed and allow some oil to past causing leak down.

Mine doesn't leak either and it only settles down a little, but the OP stated in another post that he had a small 'oil' leak and didn't know where it was coming from. They could be related.

 

[davesl708]

The backhoe's I have used had holes for pins to lock the stabilizers and boom while transporting. If yours does not have them maybe add some.
The rule of safety is to bring equipment to a zero energy state when not using. The locking pins would accomplish this.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My B26 backhoe and FEL all leak down over time. Stabs slowly over weeks of non use will creep out with 2-3" of cylinder showing when in the up position. In use with all the weight of the backhoe on them it does require boosting them back up every few minutes to keep the tractor level. The boom will be on the ground in a few hours if not using the safety lock. None of this bothers me that much and certainly not enough to do any kind of repair.

 

[dickfoster]

Mine doesn't leak either and it only settles down a little, but the OP stated in another post that he had a small 'oil' leak and didn't know where it was coming from. They could be related.

I'm the OP and I never said I had an oil leak. I don't think the thing has had time to develop one yet. Maybe it's working on one. LOL

 

[dickfoster]

The backhoe's I have used had holes for pins to lock the stabilizers and boom while transporting. If yours does not have them maybe add some.
The rule of safety is to bring equipment to a zero energy state when not using. The locking pins would accomplish this.

It has two transport pins for the boom (up/down and back and forth) but not the stabs, nor the bucket itself.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I'm the OP and I never said I had an oil leak. I don't think the thing has had time to develop one yet. Maybe it's working on one. LOL

Sorry, I thought you made another thread about a leak. Old age and crs strikes again.

 

[dickfoster]

Sorry, I thought you made another thread about a leak. Old age and crs strikes again.

Tell me about it. What were we talking about again?