Backhoe Backhoe Stabilizer locks

[ficord]

Does anyone have backhoe Stabilizer locks on their backhoe out riggers?
Mine leak down in about a week enough where I have to put them back up before backing out of the garage. I have read where some tie them up with a rope. I was thinking of making just a slip over lock like I have on my main boom on a woods 7500. Shown in the first picture. I was thinking of mounting it from the lower piston pin to the arm of the stabilizer shown in the second picture. Just making a longer pin piston pin for the lock to ride on.
Just wondering if any locks come factory on other backhoes. Or should it not leak down in a week to 10 days.
Thanks for any information.

 

[shvl73]

I think most hydraulics leak down eventually. it only takes a small particle to cause a leak in a cylinder or valve. A quick & cheap way that I use is, a pull strap with hooks on each end, like a motorcycle tie down strap. I hook it over the pins that hold the stabilizer pads on each side and cinch the strap. it works well and is simple. One strap should span across from each side.

 

[RobS]

Same as what shvl73 said, a tie-down strap. It's quick, easy and works.

 

[ray66v]

I use a bungee chord, on my subcompact TBL, and it works fine.

 

[ficord]

Thank you guys for the quick replies, But just wondering are there any factory locks out there? that come standard on other backhoes or does everybody just tie them up??

 

[dillo99]

Be careful with bungee cords. I used to do that until one day I forgot about them. I have no idea why I didn't see them, but I didn't. Anyway, I lowered the stabilizers and suddenly there was a hook whizzing by my head. Just missed me. Scared the **** out of me so now I just let them drift down. I do like the idea of putting something on there similar to the boom lock. Should be a fairly easy mod.

 

[wushaw]

I use the straps with hooks also...it works and is cheap.

I know I won't foget the strap is there since it goes straight across the work platform and if you modify it with something down low that you can't see it is possible to forget about it.

 

[dfkrug]

FICORD:
That looks like a Woods hoe, with cast steel outrigger legs. If you weld
some sort of retainer on the leg, you will be welding cast steel, which
could be an issue depending on its metallurgy. You will likely forget the
retainer is locked more than once. I have bent my boom lock this way, so I
rarely use it. I just reach behind me and raise boom and outriggers before
driving the tractor.

I have not seen any outrigger staying mechanisms on the b/h attachments
I have seen. My Prairie Dog's will drop an inch or so in a few days.
Amazingly, my B21 outriggers (with 2350 hr on them) do not drop at all. In
the stored rest position they are more vertical than the other hoe, however.

 

[ray66v]

Be careful with bungee cords. I used to do that until one day I forgot about them. I have no idea why I didn't see them, but I didn't. Anyway, I lowered the stabilizers and suddenly there was a hook whizzing by my head. Just missed me. Scared the **** out of me so now I just let them drift down. I do like the idea of putting something on there similar to the boom lock. Should be a fairly easy mod.

On my hoe, I can not get up on the seat without removing the bungee cord. It streches across the opening you have to step through.

 

[ficord]

I was going to drill a hole with a 1/2 bolt sticking out about 1 inch. Not do any welding.
My only fear is that it might break or jam if I forget it. Or i can use a 5/16 bolt that will break off if I forget . It dosent have to be that strong just to hold up leg. The leg is a pretty strong cast Iron ribed part I doubt it will bend
I just don't want to always have a loose strap or cord around.

 

[RFB]

My Rhino 85 BH has swing-locks on the main boom and both outriggers, and a pin lock to prevent rotation.

I believe it is standard design on all Rhino BH's.

 

[ficord]

Thank you I'll try and find some pictures of the rhino.
Does it mount down at the lower piston pin?

 

[dfkrug]

I believe it is standard design on all Rhino BH's.

I don't have any Rhino hoe pix. Do you have a photo of the outrigger
lock? Woods may be the only current maker of CUT hoes with cast steel
outrigger arms.

 

[CurlyDave]

Does anyone have backhoe Stabilizer locks on their backhoe out riggers?

Mine don't leak down, so far.

Actually, I think the best way to handle this issue is by deliberately lowering them to the ground when you park. Just like you should lower your bucket and release all pressure in the curl on your FEL.

As the wise old guy who introduced me to tractors told me: "Kids are fascinated by tractors. Don't ever leave yours in a state where one can climb up into the seat, play with the levers and lower something onto his buddy on the ground."

He passed on a while back, but that advice has stuck with me.

Now you might not have any kids, or even have any who visit, but who knows when a neighbor will have grandkids visit? Our kids are grown & gone, so you think I might be safe. But about a week ago a friend/neighbor came over as part of a larger group. He brought his girlfriend, and her two boys, maybe 10 and 6. While I was paying attention to something else, he and the kids wandered out into the garage. When I got there the older boy was up in the tractor seat and younger one was looking around under it.

Sure, they shouldn't have been doing that, and my friend should have known better, but he didn't. Because I had left the tractor in a safe state, no one had an 800 lb bucket, or an outrigger, lowered on him, and we didn't have a tragedy.

 

[RFB]

dfkrug,

I will get some photos tomorrow. Dark out now.

The BH is currently off of the tractor (snowblower on), and I like the ability to keep the locks on all moving parts even with hydro disconnected. Without hydro, you cannot retract the various booms/legs to release the locks, so it can sit for a year without changing position.

 

[dfkrug]

Mine don't leak down, so far.

Actually, I think the best way to handle this issue is by deliberately lowering them to the ground when you park. Just like you should lower your bucket and release all pressure in the curl on your FEL.

Dave, maybe your JD110 is like my B21 and the Case 580 that I had hired
here.....the outriggers just don't leak down. Maybe because they store
in a very vertical position.

When I park my tractors, I always lower the hoe boom after stopping engine,
but I leave the outriggers up. I have noticed with a few of my tractors that
if I stored it with all the hoe weight on the back wheels, I got one or both
of the front axle king pin seals to drip. Reverse loading on the seals caused
that. I could also get them to drip by putting from axles on jackstands
overnight. Another reason to properly rest the hoe down.

 

[GV40U]

My BH90 backhoe stabilizers have unused bolt holes drilled through the steel ground pads. I use a piece of 3/8" rod with a right angle bend at each end to link the two pads together when they are raised for transport. Kind of like using the tie down or ratchet strap as others have mentioned except that the "strap" is a steel rod, cut to length, with bends at each end and a little bit of taper ground into the ends to fit into the conveniently available holes in the stabilizer pads. The stabilizers do leak down against the rod but a gentle nudge brings one back up a fraction of an inch so the rod can be easily removed. The rod also has small holes drilled in the ends to accept a cotter pin or spring pin but I've not had a problem with the rod coming loose even without a retaining pin. I've notched the backhoe foot platform at the edge closest to the back of the tractor to hold the rod while it is not securing the stabilizers. Sorry I don't have pictures, the backhoe is off the tractor with the stabilizers down.

 

[RFB]

dfkrug,

Here's the photos; 1 is the outrigger lock, 2 is the boom lock, and 3 (the left rear) is the travel anti-rotation pin-lock.

 

[ficord]

Thank you very much RFB for taking the time to post the pictures.
The picture of the outrigger lock is just what I was thinking about even the bend in it. I'll post pictures of mine once completed.

 

[dfkrug]

Here's the photos; 1 is the outrigger lock,.....

Thx for posting. Have you forgot about them an operated the outriggers?