BX25 Backhoe

[TonkaToy]

Hi All,

I am coming up on 2 years of ownership and about 100 hours of usage, so far it has been trouble free and lived up to and exceeded my expectations.

I have logged about 25 hours on the BH and this past weekend, I had my hand on the boom when I noticed it was very hot. Not too hot to touch, but definitely more than I would expect. I am guessing this is from the hydraulic fluid pumping through it and it is very hot. The temp gauge is right in the middle where it always is and everything is working fine. My question is do I need to concern myself or this is normal? I remember when I bought it the guy at the Kubota dealer said the BX25 has all kind of check valves and other protection mechanisms, you really can't force it beyond its capabilities. Would it be safe to say that provided the temp gauge is normal and there is nothing peculiar like smoke or funny smells, you can't really overexert the BH?

Thanks
Franco

 

[spike23]

Yeah, I think it's perfectly normal for the fluid to get that hot. My logsplitter gets hot like that too.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

Yeah, the hydraulics get pretty hot. The temp gauge is for the engine coolant, not the hydraulics. You my check your HST fan and make sure it isn't broken, but I took my endloader off yesterday, and the hydraulic fitting were pretty hot to the touch. Not so hot I couldn't disconnect them, but almost.

 

[John Reece]

Mine always gets hot to the touch, but I have found that it seems to get less hot at higher RPMs. When I first got my BX-25, I was running it just fast enough to get the job done. I learned, on this site, that higher RPMs were easier on the equipment. I'm a believer.

 

[ClendenninTrail]

Should not be anything to worry about. A few months ago I had a job that required something larger than my BX-25. In the past, I've rented full size backhoes, but I decided to rent a B26 just see how it compared to the BX. An added benefit was that I didn't have to pay for equipment delivery and pickup. Both machines exhibited similar operating characteristics. They both have slower hydraulic movement, the cylinders were hot to the touch, and I could smell the SUDT on both machines. Being that the B26 is considered commercial grade, I quit worrying about it. Plus, a common size backhoe like the John Deere 310 weighs 17,600 lbs. Even if the hydraulics run cooler, I can't pull that behind my pick up truck.

 

[rlsmith]

Oh so very normal for all Hydro to get very hot, even on the coolest days when working the BH and FEL all the lines, quick connects and cylinders get very hot. On My 6yr old BX23 with over 1200 hours I have always run all my equipment at least 3/4 throttle to full throttle, and during the summer and working the units I always smell the hydro, because the vent is under your seat.
Start to worry if the units becomes jerky or the whine is really loud and stays that way as if under a real hard load... like going up hill in high range with a loaded FEL and BH. I normally make all my valves squeal because I am always pushing my BX to and beyond its normal limits. I have had to add weight to either my front end or back end to offset what I am lifting or moving just to keep all 4 wheels to the ground:laughing:. My unit has performed just about everything I have ever used it to do. Right now I am digging out a decorative pond in clay 30'X40'X5' with my little mule just about 3/4 done in 12 hours.

 

[BotaBX24er]

The one on my BX24 get hot and have always been that way from day one.

 

[TonkaToy]

I figured it was normal, but wanted to be sure. I am glad to hear everyone in agrrement with that and also good to know that operating at full or close to full throtle is the way to go. I had heard this before but never bothered to do it, more like enough throttle to get the job done ( I live in a residential neighborhood and full throttle is kind of loud). Going forward, especially for anything that requires extra effort for my BX, I will make sure to up the RPM's.

Thanks for the replies.