Ford 555B Boom and Stick hydraulics won't work simultaneously. Is this normal?

[RickB]

View attachment 642989

Link does not work for me.

 

[ovrszd]

I ran into a potential buyer of a 655E a few months back that wanted a price on a two stick conversion kit for the E as it was a 4 stick machine. I was shocked that the kit was still available and he was shocked at the price. B series were about the last that were predominantly 4 stick and up north I had never heard of a 4 stick E.

Not bragging,,,, I can run a 9 stick grader with smooth finesse. I struggle with a 4 stick hoe. Add foot swing, I'm out.... Isn't that weird.....

 

[RickB]

Not bragging,,,, I can run a 9 stick grader with smooth finesse. I struggle with a 4 stick hoe. Add foot swing, I'm out.... Isn't that weird.....

I am ambivalent myself. I have never run a backhoe or excavator enough to get proficient at any control pattern. Guys that can run graders well are special. Guys that cannot run graders well should not.

 

[UrbannGuerilla]

You need to feather the controls, do not move them all the way when trying to use multiple functions. What throttle setting are you using? Fixed displacement pumps provide flow proportional to ERPM. Also has the hydraulic system filter been changed and the suction screen been checked or cleaned? Oil level checked?

It has been different throttle settings, but typically around 1200 rpm. I know the "working range" according to the manual says 1600-2200 rpm, but for the small things we have been doing since we got it.. I didn't think higher RPMs would be necessary to accomplish them. We moved a few square bundles of railroad ties using the FEL to hoist and move, we practiced digging a small hole with the hoe and covering it back up several times, and we pushed over some rows of planted pine stumps with the FEL (only about 3-4 ft from ground to the top of the stump) that we cut down a year or two ago. The stumps were soft and easy to push over.. so nothing really intensive. The hydraulic system filter has NOT been changed or inspected yet, we have just been testing and learning the basic operation of the machine so far, all of this backhoe stuff is new to us. Hydraulic fluid level is about 1/4" above the full line on the dipstick.

Since reading your reply I have looked at the manual and I can't find where it shows where the suction screen is and how you get to it, but it does mention an outlet screen.

 

[UrbannGuerilla]

Doesn't sound normal. Is this a two or four stick control?

Its 2 stick

 

[UrbannGuerilla]

This is normal. The valves are stacked valves, a section for each control, and the oil flows into the first block and out the last. When you move a control to full, all flow is diverted to that function. When the function maxes out at the stop, the relief in that section (each function has a relief pressure) opens and allows oil to flow thru the rest of the block allowing the other functions to work.

Like you said, when you feather multiple controls they all work at the same time. This is because the spool is not fully closed directing the oil to only the one function so it will operate that function slower, but allow oil to flow to the others as well. This is common, and depending on the equipment the valves will be ordered so certain functions have priority over others. JLG does this on their lifts and explained in the manual as such.

So it is a balancing act of engine speed which equals oil flow and how fast you want multiple functions to work at the same time.

My 550 has the 4 lever hoe, and works this way as well.

Are you pretty positive that this is totally normal? I assumed it was not normal at all, but I don't know much about this thing so I'm in no position to argue about much of anything. I thought you "should" be able to operate all the hydraulics on the backhoe at the same time at full speed. I don't think that I could run it at full speed right now and do anything right that fast, (but I'm positive I could mess something up trying it) but in my own head I thought that it should be possible to do.. so as I got better at the controls I could pick up speed with experience.

 

[RickB]

The suction screen is in the suction line leading from the hydraulic tank to the pump. Outlet screen is a poor description but probably refers to the same thing. 1200 rpm will not provide sufficient flow to operate multiple functions well regardless of how You feather the controls. Rev the machine up closer to the operating range called out in the manual.

 

[ovrszd]

I run at 1400rpm.

In regards to multiple function. I can throw a bucket full of dirt 5-6ft past my swing maximum. Better said, I can fill the bucket, lift and swing the boom, while swinging uncurl the bucket and throw it's contents farther than the swing can reach. This task involves operating the boom, stick, bucket and swing at the same time.

For an example of hydraulic power. I can stretch ou the boom, including extendable stick, set the bucket on the ground, lift the rear of the machine off the ground and swing the boom, moving the rear of the machine sideways.

I can hook the bucket under an immovable object and lift the front of the machine off the ground.

If your 555 won't do these things then I suspect a weak pump.

 

[UrbannGuerilla]

The suction screen is in the suction line leading from the hydraulic tank to the pump. Outlet screen is a poor description but probably refers to the same thing. 1200 rpm will not provide sufficient flow to operate multiple functions well regardless of how You feather the controls. Rev the machine up closer to the operating range called out in the manual.

Thanks Rick, I'll do that. I appreciate the help.

 

[UrbannGuerilla]

I run at 1400rpm.

In regards to multiple function. I can throw a bucket full of dirt 5-6ft past my swing maximum. Better said, I can fill the bucket, lift and swing the boom, while swinging uncurl the bucket and throw it's contents farther than the swing can reach. This task involves operating the boom, stick, bucket and swing at the same time.

For an example of hydraulic power. I can stretch ou the boom, including extendable stick, set the bucket on the ground, lift the rear of the machine off the ground and swing the boom, moving the rear of the machine sideways.

I can hook the bucket under an immovable object and lift the front of the machine off the ground.

If your 555 won't do these things then I suspect a weak pump.

That's not the news I wanted to hear, lol.. I am gonna check the filter and the screen tomorrow and see how they look. I'm gonna have to read about how I can check the screen without spilling a ton of fluid out, cause I"m not sure how to do it yet, but I'm pretty sure the line with the screen is right behind the grill.