BH80x Backhoe creak

[Tim M]

I've got a Brand new Woods BH80x subframe mounted on a Kioti CK30. As I crowd the boom under load there is some very unnerving creaking (almost a metal popping). This starts happening when the dipper is maybe 4 or so feet away from the boom. I am only running about 1500 rpms.

I read and reread the manual and I think I am using the float properly.

Is there any guidance about how close to bring the dipper to the boom under load?

Thanks.

 

[FULLPULL]

I would first make shure all of the grease fittings took enough grease . It sounds like a dry joint or bushing and pin . Move the boom, bucket and dipper in different spots as you grease. This may help the new unit take grease better .

 

[shvl73]

I would also check all subframe bolts.

 

[Tim M]

Hmmm. All the bolts holding the crossmember (no 7 in pic) were loose when I got the tractor. In fact one nut fell off and the shine caught my eye before I buried it. I will go over the install manual and torque everything up.

Should I be locktighting these bolts?

Thanks.

 

[john_bud]

Yes, locktite blue. Non-permanent type.

Also, grease the snickers out of each and every grease fitting. If they didn't tighten the subframe, what else didn't they do?
hoses, fluid level, ?

jb

 

[wushaw]

It only takes one loose bolt to make it sound like the world is coming apart.
Tighten the tar out of them.

 

[wedge40]

Just be careful when tightening the "Tar" out of the bolts. I'm pretty sure there is directions that tell you what torque to tighten too. I do my own brakes and I kept having the rotors warp on my car. After being told that they needed to tightened (I believe) 90ft-lbs, no more or no less, I quit having rotor problems.

Wedge

 

[Tim M]

Looks like the dipper cylinder rod end (dipper connection) is bone dry. It will be a few days before I can grease it and see if this gets rid of the creak.(I may wait and show my dealer)

Could this lack of grease have caused any permanent damage?

In the meantime I am a little uneasy. What else should I be looking for in terms of things my dealer "may have overlooked" ? I can turn a wrench but this is my first piece of hydraulic equipment.

I am considering having my dealer come pick it up and repeat the setup with me present. Is this reasonable?

Thanks.

 

[shvl73]

I would just grease it and be done with it. You can pull the pin and check for scoring and wear patterns but, unless it is showing harm, I'd go over it myself and that's it. Obviously it should have been done by the dealer prep.

 

[FULLPULL]

Sub-frames seem to work loose keep a eye on it for a while . If you want you can call the dealer and ask him his opinion on what caused them to work loose . If it wasnt tight at delivery the dealer needs to know . Otherwise i would go over the machine good and grease the fittings as needed . It sounds like you caught it early enough to prevent damage .

 

[dfkrug]

It only takes one loose bolt to make it sound like the world is coming apart.

YES! This is also true of newly mounted loaders.

Another thing I have found with new equipment is that they often sit outside
for a long time before the buyer gets them. Rain gets into pivot pins that
have no grease. Sometimes a plug of rust builds up inside the pivot, esp if
there is a ground grease channel in the pin. The ground channel is more
rust-prone than the rest of the pin. Sometimes it makes sense to pull the
pins on new equipment if you know it has been in the rain for a long time.

 

[john_bud]

I would call the dealer and very calmly tell him that the subframe had loose bolts and the one pin is dry. Ask if they can shoot you over a service break down showing the location of all the grease points and the location + torque levels for all the bolts. It's something you should know your self and it isn't hard at all.

Here's the sneaky part, a GOOD dealer will automatically tell you that he is scheduling a person to come and check the machine out and redo the prep. You can gage the dealer "status" by what they offer to do.

If you are uncomfortable doing it solo at first, prompt the dealer that you would like have one of his guys (or him) go over it with you to be sure it's all correct. On a new machine, they should be more than willing to do that.

jb

 

[Tim M]

Great input guys. I will report back soon.

Thanks.

 

[mikim]

Tim -- look close under the controls at the swing swivel point -- there's a zerk there that's hard to see ....I miss that one about every other time just cause it's hiding.

 

[Tim M]

Greased everything up and blue loctited the cross member.

No more creak! It's digging like a champ.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[wedge40]

Tim thanks for closing out the post. It's nice to know the problem was solved and inexpensively. Have fun moving dirt.

Wedge