Backhoe Proper way to park tractor w backhoe when not in use?

[boostmg]

Ok so just wondering, when i park my tractor with backhoe i guess there are two options.

1. rest the backhoe on the ground
2. Put the boom pin in, and let the backhoe just hang on the tractor.

is one way better than another? I think using the boom pin is more convenient and space saving, i just felt like maybe by resting the backhoe on the ground I’m giving the tractor some less stress on it.

 

[ericm979]

It's far less stress than digging with the backhoe. When I have the BH on I park it with the pins in. And a strap to hold up the outriggers that droop.

 

[boostmg]

It's far less stress than digging with the backhoe. When I have the BH on I park it with the pins in. And a strap to hold up the outriggers that droop.

Ok cool. My backhoe has little metal things that catch my outriggers from falling down

 

[Frankenkubota]

Ok cool. My backhoe has little metal things that catch my outriggers from falling down

that will be my first welding project once i get power.....and learn to weld.


my outriggers always drop and can cause problems.

 

[sea2summit]

It's far less stress than digging with the backhoe. When I have the BH on I park it with the pins in. And a strap to hold up the outriggers that droop.

That^
I also uncurl the bucket, partially just to make sure it doesn’t catch any water.

 

[woody]

I always put my FEL and BH on the ground, less stress on tractor and hydraulics

 

[tibadoe]

I let the backhoe rest on the pins.

 

[Captain Dirty]

If we are polling the practice, I also let the BH rest on the pins. I have trained myself pretty well to always lower the boom so the pins contact the hook rather than "floating" with the hook down. I have not trained myself well to uncurl the bucket to prevent water accumulation.

As far as the hydraulics go, I believe the lack of strain would be the same resting on the pins or resting on the ground. The picayune question is if the wear on the pins and hook is greater or less than the wear on the attachment raising it and securing it in the travel position after lowering it to the ground.

 

[loggin]

I always take the weight off the tractor and put a piece of wood under the bucket to keep it off the ground. I think the main thing is moving the joysticks to activate the valves after the tractor has been shut off to relieve the pressure in the lines to prevent leakdown. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Mine parks indoors. I put the FEL on the ground. I just let the backhoe float wherever it is. I can't use the travel lock. Its 2" too tall for the door. I don't bother to ground the bucket.

 

[scaredychicken]

that will be my first welding project once i get power.....and learn to weld.


my outriggers always drop and can cause problems.

I use rachet straps for the outriggers. Tractor is never parked long enough (generally) so the pins are fine for me. I tip the loader (resting on ground) and bucket to avoid rain collection

 

[boostmg]

Mine parks indoors. I put the FEL on the ground. I just let the backhoe float wherever it is. I can't use the travel lock. Its 2" too tall for the door. I don't bother to ground the bucket.

Doesn’t it fall down over time?

 

[rngrrymd]

I use the pins for holding the backhoe in place. Every time I run the tractor I raise the outriggers to full height again from their drooped position and if it rained I empty the bucket. I don't think I've ever gone more than about 3 weeks not running the tractor. In the winter I let it run for about 1/2 hour every 3 weeks to keep the battery charged.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Many many… many years ago in HD mechanic school we were taught for safety everything either resting on pins or check chains with all pressure relieved so that nobody (kids) can be injured operating valves when it’s left unattended.

For longevity, cylinders should be fully retracted if possible. For a backhoe or excavator that means fully extended boom, dipper and bucket. For a loader, bucket curled and on the ground. Not really important for small stuff stored indoors or under cover though.

 

[Thomas]

Years ago our backhoe front loader rested on the ground tilted enough not to collect water.

 

[Jchonline]

I let my bucket rest on a wood pallet in the garage. I remove all hydraulic pressure from the cylinders. My outriggers never droop. They just stay up all the time. I use by BH just about every time the machine is out of the garage these days.

 

[Jstpssng]

Either my father or the previous owner drilled (two) 1/2 inch holes in the bucket so that the water would run out. Most likely the original owner, as it was always stored in the barn for the 25+ years that my father had it.

 

[fried1765]

I use the pins for holding the backhoe in place. Every time I run the tractor I raise the outriggers to full height again from their drooped position and if it rained I empty the bucket. I don't think I've ever gone more than about 3 weeks not running the tractor. In the winter I let it run for about 1/2 hour every 3 weeks to keep the battery charged.

If you have electric power available, a Battery Minder, or Battery Tender is the better idea to keep your battery charged.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Doesn’t it fall down over time?

Of course. Just use it regularly.

It takes a couple of weeks to drop the bucket to ground. Generally it gets used more frequently. My bigger issue is when it is I detach it to use the 3ph. The stabilizers bleed down until the frame grounds. The hoses will still attach, but you got to get real close. Sometimes I have to raise it with the stabs. Disconnect. Realign and finish hooking up. All in all, no big deal.

 

[miniceptor86]

I was taught to always lower attachments to rest on the ground. Leaving them up is unsafe because the have potential energy and someone could be injured or killed if they were near or under the attachment and it fell either by a mechanical failure or someone bumping or inadvertently operating the controls. As in children.