Backhoe Backhoe side-to-side play

[Antigonish]

When horizontally extended my backhoe is about 9.5 ft and has side-to-side play of about 6 inches. The chains that drive it side to side are adjustable. I am thinking of tightening it up and want to know what the acceptable play is. (It's a Cub Cadet -- no owners manual).

Can anyone help me with this?

 

[LarryRB]

even brand new machines, idf the hoe is extended all the way out, there is play. I don't think tightening your chains will stop this and may even cause damage. Look at an extended hoe like a pendulum on a clock. same thing

 

[notamustang]

I would say tight yes not gorilla torqued though. Figure all the pivot points as stated above they are not bolted they are pined there is gonna be some play.
Is this play just pushing with your forearm (lightly leaning) or are you putting some weight behind it (pushing).
The reason I ask is someone with more knowledge than myself will have a better understanding.

 

[bigtractor]

Yes there will be play and at 9 ft out that ain't too bad.

 

[Henro]

Interesting question.

Had my backhoe on and off yesterday...if it was on now I would check mine too...

I have not noticed a lot of play in mine, which is three years old and has a bit of use under its belt.

Do you notice this when you are using it, or just when you give it a side-to-side test?

I was using mine fully extended yesterday, and did not notice any side-to-side play, at least not enough to bother me.

If it is there, perhaps as you become more used to the hoe, and be smoother with its operation, it will not be an issue.

Then again, you may have decades of backhoe experience, and be as smooth as pudding already! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Guess all I can say is that I have a chain type swing backhoe (kubota BL4690A) and slop so far has not been an issue...

 

[Antigonish]

Thanks for your comments. A couple of you have asked me for clarification:
I expect some play (so as not to put too much strain on linkages). This arm bounces a bit when I bring it into position (which is great for unsticking wet clay from the bucket, but not so much for precision next to foundations etc.). The six inch measure is unforced and the play is in the chains, not the pins and bushings.

 

[KiotiJohn]

In my opinion, you want that play to remain. I've dug enough stumps to know that without a good bit of play there, it would be too much on the backhoe subframe, tractor and the BH boom arm.
I have a good bit of play in mine as well in the extended postion, and I want it there. Sort of like letting my 3pt. hitch arms sway a bit, except when I have on the brush mower.
I think the secret is in the feathering of the control sticks so that you don't let it get a lot of action going. If you move to quickly, you'll get the backlash that could be bad up close to something. John

 

[rdbrumfield]

I'm with KiotiJohn. With the chain system you will have some play. don't tighten them to much. I had a hoe with the chain swing and had some problems with the chain breaking when it was too tight. Like John said, feather the swing and it will be smoother for you. As far as knocking the clay out by swinging back and forth, you are looking for some broken parts.

 

[v8dave]

Interestingly, my Kubota B4672A backhoe manual does not describe setting the chain "tension." I examine the chains when I lube the unit. I've chosen to set the chains as I did at my first lube. I've found them to not loosen since the first 10 hours. Probably only 50 hours backhoe time now.

I snug up the chain on each side with a modest pull on the chain-end bolt/nut. Enough so there is no slack or looseness, but not a hard pull on a 9" handle 3/8" socket either. I detect very little bucket slop when fully extended and that is from 3pt and joint looseness not chains. When delivered these chain-end nuts were really pulled up tight, so this is slightly looser than when delivered. I asked the delivery mechanic how to set the chains, when it was delivered, basically all he said was they shouldn't be loose.

Not withstanding the previous posters' advice, it seems to me that slop in the chain might be just as hard (if not harder) than an over tight chain. Banging a loose chain at the ends of the swings while digging has to be really hard on the whole unit. Of course, your mileage may vary.