BH650 Woods Backhoe (Fixer upper) NEW TOY...:)

Hanksride · Sep 1, 2013

I recently came across a BH650 backhoe that has been somewhat deserted in the elements. This was on a buddy of mine's place in the elements for about 15 years and he has no tractor small enough for it to work with so I got it for nothing. The seat is rotted off of it and it looks pretty rough.

I put the BH on my L2800 tractor and seems like a good fit for it. Filled the reservoir with fluid and played with it for about 20 minutes, dug a small hole about 4ft X 4ft X 4ft deep and it was leaking fluid from several cylinders, outriggers bleeding off. Stop the bucket in mid air and watch it slowly drift to the ground. It seems to have strength when digging and I don't think any hoses are leaking. It basically leaked apprpox 5 gallons of fluid out in the 20 minutes of running it.

With limited amount of money to spend at one time on this thing I took off the dipper cylinder, and both out rigger cylinders and dropped them off to have them rebuilt. I think about 100.00 each is going to be the cost. However they called me and told me the rods were pitted a little and would probably leak asking if I wanted them replaced. Their estimate on that was 165.00 for each rod. I elected not to do this at this time because I don't know if this thing is really going to be worth fixing. I don't think they are pitted that bad, so I figured I would go over them with some emery cloth before re installing. I can live with some small seepage but not it pouring like before.

The swing cylinder is leaking bad also and I now have it off for rebuild as well. Am I headed the right direction for a BH that other than playing around with it while new to me I will only use probably 2 to 3 times a year.

I don't know a lot about hydraulic cylinders so when is it best to replace versus rebuild?? I am sure I have some lines to replace on it as well.

Can't wait to get this thing going, I may dig my whole place up...

Hanksride · Sep 1, 2013

One other thing to ask, when I put these cylinders back on will I need to bleed them? How do I get the air out of the system? Will it work itself out and I just keep an eye on the fluid levels??

Kaliburz · Sep 2, 2013

The air should work their way out, no bleeding should be needed.

A fine grit emery cloth is advised. Your main concern is the rods won't grab on to the wiper/seal and tear it. A local farm repair shop, the owner was rebuilding and saw a small nick on the rod. He just polished it down w/ some cloth or polishing wheel till it was smooth. Your rod wiper/seal should keep most of the oil in. Yes, you'll use a little bit in that little hole, but the flowing dripping you saw prior to getting rebuilt was the wipers weeping/leaking.

I have an old Kelly back hoe that need some rebuilding. Rod seals are seeping on the bucket curl. But, like yourself, I seldom use it....but, I don't have a dedicated hydraulic system for it (ie reservoi, & pump), it's plumbed to use the tractor hydraulics. I can use it a good hour or to and just have a small leak...but if I gushed out a big puddle, that's another story.

J_J · Sep 2, 2013

Just add up all your replacement parts and see if it is worth it to rebuild or get new or sell it for parts.

Air should self bleed by use.

You can find good prices by shopping places like Ebay, Surplus, Baileys Hyd, Northern Tools, etc.

If you use the BH to do work for other people, that will help you pay for parts.

ishiboo · Sep 2, 2013

I have a post pounder with a pitted drive cylinder... it leaks ever so slightly but performs fine. A fine emery cloth is probably the way to go.

Worst case scenario... a backhoe does not have that many cylinders... if you can find them new you are probably best off. If you have to immediately replace the hoses and valve, then you could get into some significant $$. But the good news is you have such a small initial investment, it's hard to go wrong

Hanksride · Sep 2, 2013

Thanks for all the info.. The hoses under the control cabinet look like new (not been exposed to the sunlight) the other ones look a little rough but I don't think any of them were leaking when I tested it out. However it was leaking so much fluid it was hard to say exactly where it was all coming from. When I would swing the boom to the right it would squirt fluid all over the left tractor tire and I was not sure if it was coming from a cylinder or line on that one.

Not 100% sure about the cylinder inside the boom either, I am hoping since it was covered from the elements it also is in fairly good shape.

Taking care of the obvious problems then will test drive it again and look for more leaks and issues..

Hanksride · Sep 28, 2013

Well I had to rebuild all but one cylinder on the backhoe but now have it going. I have about $500.00 in the whole thing. I used it for about 4 hrs yesterday with no leaks. Some of the lines look pretty bad but they are holding so far. I did notice after some fairly hard use that the cylinders seem pretty warm, I assume this is normal? I have not changed the filter, it appears to be the original filter so no telling how old it is. It is solid yellow with no numbers. Anyone know where or how I can figure out the filter number for a Woods 650? I don't think I have a local dealer in my area.

I must say it is not the most powerful BH but it certainly beats a shovel. I will need to get the teeth replaced at some point, one is broken off. Seems to be perfect sized for my L2800 tractor. I don't think there is any real danger in busting my tractor with it.