BH Joystick Issue

[Diggin It]

Pulling a few stumps this morning and one of the main joysticks started to loosen up. It still works, just wobbles. I opened the one cover and loosened the top plate and this is what I see. The red arrow points to the wobbley spot. There is a rubber boot covering whatever's under there and it's held by a tywrap.

Is there anything under there I can do anything with? A nut to be tightened? I don't want to open it and find something broken.

 

[ptsg]

Yes there are rod ends hiding under the boot. It's common for the bolts or nuts to loosen over time. Some people will actually put a dab of blue Loctite on those. You may be able to do it by just cutting that zip tie and lift the boot up, to have access to the linkage.

Here is a picture of all the parts from a joystick. Not exactly yours but will pretty similar.

 

[Diggin It]

OK, you made me look. As I feared, it won't be that simple. Water has been getting inside that boot and all of the surfaces are rusted/corroded. The center swivel points of those eyes seem to be gone. Guess I need to find a source and do whatever.

 

[Mrsig]

Is there a way to stop this from happening?

 

[ptsg]

Is there a way to stop this from happening?

If the issue is just the nuts or bolts loosen up over time, then blue Loctite fixes that. If the issue is the rust, just spray something like Fluid Film or similar and probably put a tarp over the backhoe or at least the control valve area if it sits outside.

 

[Diggin It]

Gunkiness:

Odd, because the rustier one on the left is OK (for now). The right one is where the trouble was. Got it working temporarily until I can find the rod end ball joint.

I'm not sure how water got in there since both boots were sealed at the rings marked with the arrows.

Cleaned it out with Gunk, then carb cleaner and air, then gobbed it all with marine grease. Will leave it open for a while until I get parts, maybe longer.

 

[Diggin It]

This is apparently a Walvoil 5/6 control valve, but so far I can't find the rod ends separately. What is complicating things is that the rod end is 8MM and the other end is 6MM. So far, I can't find that combination.

I thought I might be able to use one with 8MM at both ends and enlarge the hole in the top plate, but that isn't going to work. I might try one with 6MM at both ends and use a bushing over the threaded end if I can't find anything else.

Surplus Center didn't respond to my inquiry. Another place simply replied 'No'.

 

[CADplans]

Surplus Center didn't respond to my inquiry. Another place simply replied 'No'.

No one is really interested in selling you a $2.42 swivel end,,
I have a bunch of them,, but no metric ones.
You may have to "adapt" one that is close,, or buy a new joystick.

Whatever you do,, toss the cute rubber boot, so that the parts can dry out after they get wet.

 

[lman]

Park it in the barn.

 

[K5lwq]

Diggin, give John a call at Progressive Power. He is about the only person I could get to even sell me a Walvoil valve. He is a good guy and did provide parts. This was a few years ago so he may not work there anymore but someone there should help.

 

[jdeilus]

I purchased something very similar or even the same for my FEL. I found it on eBay. In EBay search Buyrightauto. That is the eBay store name.

 

[mikester]

Is there a way to stop this from happening?

Start parking your machine indoors

 

[fried1765]

Gunkiness:


View attachment 712091

Odd, because the rustier one on the left is OK (for now). The right one is where the trouble was. Got it working temporarily until I can find the rod end ball joint.

I'm not sure how water got in there since both boots were sealed at the rings marked with the arrows.

Cleaned it out with Gunk, then carb cleaner and air, then gobbed it all with marine grease. Will leave it open for a while until I get parts, maybe longer.

When you park your chit outside this should be no surprise!

 

[Diggin It]

Diggin, give John a call at Progressive Power. He is about the only person I could get to even sell me a Walvoil valve. He is a good guy and did provide parts. This was a few years ago so he may not work there anymore but someone there should help.

He's still there, but he says Wavoil can't identify the parts based on the pictures and dimensions I sent.

I purchased something very similar or even the same for my FEL. I found it on eBay. In EBay search Buyrightauto. That is the eBay store name.

Found them, and they show an item with M8s at both ends and one with an M6 stud and M8 housing (opposite of what I need). Sent an inquiry and they replied they don't have the one I need.

But then I found this site, also in Bushnell, IL and showing exactly the same pictures.

Midwest Control Products

Manufacturers of Ball Joints, Yoke Ends, Spherical Rod End, Wireforms and Tube Fabrications, Clevises, Cables, Fasteners, Hydraulic Adapters, Hydraulic Hoses, Rigid Linkages, Fabricating

midwestcontrol.com

That site indeed shows the one (I think) I need and for a much better price in a quantity of 4 that I would take:

Ball Joints Female M6 x 1.00 RH Housing

DMCS-8-6, Ball Joints, Female M6 x 1.00 RH Housing M8 x 1.25 RH Stud Zinc Clear (Silver) Plating

midwestcontrol.com

They also show this that should work for the third one in each side:

Bearings, Spherical Rod End Female M6 x 1.00 RH

AVFM-6-1, Bearings, Spherical Rod End, Female M6 x 1.00 RH Steel Housing, Bronze Race

midwestcontrol.com

I have an inquiry in to them to confirm a couple of questions, but it looks like I might be able to get all six items for under $25 shipped.

 

[CADplans]

He's still there, but he says Wavoil can't identify the parts based on the pictures and dimensions I sent.

Found them, and they show an item with M8s at both ends and one with an M6 stud and M8 housing.
I have an inquiry in to them to confirm a couple of questions, but it looks like I might be able to get all six items for under $25 shipped.

I came mighty close with my guess of $2.42 each,,
Hmmmmmmm,, maybe I better run out and guess me up a lottery ticket!!

 

[martyman1]

Pulling a few stumps this morning and one of the main joysticks started to loosen up. It still works, just wobbles. I opened the one cover and loosened the top plate and this is what I see. The red arrow points to the wobbley spot. There is a rubber boot covering whatever's under there and it's held by a tywrap.

Is there anything under there I can do anything with? A nut to be tightened? I don't want to open it and find something broken.

View attachment 711991

if you remove that boot you should see loose or broken stuff

 

[tomplum]

A few of us that had the Xj w/ the BH had similar issues of water infiltration. It likely all started when they were sitting on the lot. My guess is just about everyone's controls are susceptible to this. I cleaned mine up and re-lubed, some did a sealant. Mine is kept undercover. Jimerig did a YouTube video.

 

[wraven]

Sorry for your troubles but you got me thinking and I moved my BH back into a lean-to behind my barn. It’s been out in the weather for about a month and I never imagined the controls getting that rusty under the boots.

 

[Supraman0614]

I had exactly that happen to mine. When I get home tonight, I will take a couple pics of what I did to fix it. I got the joints from Midwest Control Products, and some bushings and hardware from McMaster Carr. While not quite factory, it works fine, and I bought enough to rebuild both sides twice if necessary.

 

[PILOON]

Sorry for your troubles but you got me thinking and I moved my BH back into a lean-to behind my barn. It’s been out in the weather for about a month and I never imagined the controls getting that rusty under the boots.

Makes sense as water under the boots will not evaporate and simply grow rust.
Perhaps a heavy dose of 'chain oil' (liquid grease) might be a deterrent.