Backhoe Backhoe cylinder leaking down

[Yardscaper]

I have a 2445 with backhoe and was wondering if the rest of you with backhoes have excessive leak down issues. My hoe will leak down very quickly, more so than any other machines that we own, Moslty it is the dipper arm cylinder that will leak down from full extension to retracted position in a matter of minutes. The boom cylinder and bucket curl cylinder will also leak down, just not at as quick a pace as the dipper arm. The dipper arm cylinder was worked on by Power Trac about 8 months ago, and a new seal was installed after they straightened the crosstube at the end of the rod. Also, the stabilizer jacks have begun to leak down rather quickly as well. I do not have problems with either the lift arm cylinders or the tilt cylinders as they will hold a load in the same posiition all day long. I am just wanting to get feed back to see if this is a seal issue at the cylinder or at the hydraulic controls. Thanks!

 

[J_J]

There is a way to only check the cylinders. On the dipper cylinder, fully extend the hoe to the max. Unhook the lines to the valve control for that cyl, trying not to lose a lot of hyd fluid. Put the correct plug in each line. then only raise the main cylinder. If the dipper arm falls to the folded position over a long time, you have a very slow leak in the cyl. If it falls rather quickly, you have a good leak in the cyl.

A new cylinder or a rebuilt cylinder should not leak down.

If the cyl do not leak down, the leakage is in the valve control. Most can be rebuilt with new o-rings. If the spools edges are chipped or worn, new spools are available.

It might be better to get a new control valve, put it in yourself and save that $65.00 an hour labor charge .