Backhoe Need Kubota Backhoe advise!

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi everyone!

Truejourney advised the following in a seperate thread in the general owning/operating forum, in response to a question I posted about using the 4690's transport pins

"I would recommend that you use the backhoe's hydraulics to carry the weight and not let it rest on the pin itself. I used to let mine rest on the pin and after some bouncing around it managed to break the weld and the pin came out. It was still under warranty and the dealer welded it up better than new."

Have any of you Kubota backhoe owners had similar problems? Do you use the transport pins on your hoe?

My boom will drift down slowly even if the pto driven pump is turning while I am doing loader work. I have a b2910 with just over 35 hours on it.

I would really like to hear what the general practice is with the transport pins before I start pinning my hoe. I am afraid that I may expereince the same damage that Truejourney did, and would rather not deal with that.

Will running without using the transport pins cause any damage?

At this point if seems like I might be darned if I do and darned if I don't, using the mild form of the expression...

Bill in Pgh, PA.

 

[Rick Jay]

Bill,

I always have my Woods 7500 hoe pinned when I'm not using it and keep the PTO pump off. It seems to me that is safer as it limits the sway and bouncing possible when it is unpinned.

It would appear to me to be a bit of a safety hazard to have the rear PTO pump engaged AND the hoe unpinned while doing other work. If the backhoe controls were accidentally bumped by a branch or other obstacle, the hoe might put the tractor into an unstable configuration (or drive the bucket through a wall or something). In any event, it would seem to me that the safest configuration would be pinned with the pump off.

I have to question your comment about the boom drifting down with the pump running. That doesn't seem right to me, can anyone else confirm this? Maybe the bouncing around while doing the loader work is causing the control valve to lower the boom a bit.

It seems to me that the pins should be strong enough to hold the hoe in a stable position during normal activity.

Then again, I'm certainly not an expert on any of this. I too would be interested in hearing some comments by you more experienced hoe operators.

~Rick

 

[Taz]

My dealer delivered mine without the pin installed and I questioned him. He said they deliver it that way on purpose. I didn't press him on it but probably to eliminate the shock load on the pin as you mentioned.

If the pin weren't in while you were working you run the risk of the boom dropping to the ground if the valve is hit. As Rick said, that definitely doesn't sound right.

When it's on the tractor but not in use, my pin stays in.

 

[Steven]

Never use the pins for driving around. Why would i want all that force put on one area. put them in when its in garage to keep it from moving down while unattended. kids like to play. I do use the pin for the swing but only when on the trailer and i lower bucket to the trailer. manual states to use both for driving or trailering to job site. could be just covering there butts if someone got hurt.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

Posted the following in the general forum where I had asked a generic question about pinning/locking my backhoe...

I just re-read my BL4690A manual...and I see it specifically says to latch the boom look link and pin the swing lock, and to disengage the PTO before "transporting" the backhoe around the jobsite.

The word transporting is what confused me. In my mind now I think they meant before "operating" the TLB at the jobsite in any mode other than the backhoe mode.

Later in the manual there is a note that the boom lock link is specifically designed to be used when ever the backhoe is being transported to and from, or around the jobsite with the tractor.

I think that, coupled with the next paragraph in the manual, which starts with IMPORTANT - The boom lock should not be used when the unit is transported on a trailer or when the unit is stored or parked, just simply confused me. I did read the manual before posting this tread, and somehow there seemed to be a conflict in what was being stated.

If the boom lock is not to be used on a trailer, how can it stand up to the bouncing that occurs while using the tractor on the jobsite? This was the question that started my head spinning. The answer is still not clear...but the water is getting clearer.

After reading the replies here, and the manual again, it is my conclusion that I should set the swing lock pin and also set the boom lock link, while using the loader, or for that matter anytine I am moving the tractor while the backhoe is mounted.

I am still not sure why the boom lock should not be used while the tractor is parked, or when being transported on a trailer. My guess is that on the trailer, lowering the bucket to the trailer is a safer way to carry the tractor, and that it may have nothing to do with the ability of the lboom lock link to hold up the boom.

I really appreciate you guys taking the time to answer my question. I think operating the tractor with the locks not in place was not the safest thing to do. I don't plan on doing that anymore.

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[JerryG]

Any time the backhoe is not in use the locks need to be in place. The reason for this is to relieve pressure on the valves and cylinders and also to keep the boom in position. The backhoe will lower over time just like the loader. You wouldn’t leave your loader up if you weren‘t using it would you? When you are just driving around you aren’t using the backhoe are you? Then put the locks in place.

 

[hayden]

I forgot to remove mine once and started to operate the hoe and ripped the pin out too. Haven't welded it back in yet.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have been pinning the swing and locking the boom the last several days and it feels much better that way

I think the hoe moved around a lot more when it was unpinned.

For me, this is a practice I will follow from now on.

Works for me, at least at the moment.

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[chrisjbell]

Your boom should not go down on its own, even with the pin out, after only 35 hours. Yeah, maybe with the pump off while sitting (I absolutely agree with the earlier post about not keeping the thing held up by You have either a damaged seal on one of the hydraulic cylinders, a bad pump or a busted hose (which is probably not the case or else you'd see fluid coming out).

In any case, you should have your dealer fix the hydraulics. That is definately not right for a new unit...Chris

 

[Anonymous Poster]

HI,

I don't know...some have said that just like the loader, some will fall faster than others. I know my loader seems to stay up forever...but the backhoe boom will drop over time.

Today I got a set of jack stands to support the backhoe when it is off the machine...6 ton rating with a safety pin in each which I had not seen before. $18 for the pair at Sam's Club. Couldn't pass them by...

Thanks for the advice!

Bill in Pgh, PA...

 

[Carl_NH]

Chris,
The BH setup will drop over time is my experience with the B21TLB (integrated BH). It has to do to with the hyd return valve settings. I just reach around every half hour of so and raise the BH again. It's not a malfunction but the way the Kubota sets up the system.

I have seen the commercial units (580 case, etc) set for a long time without any leakdown so I suspect it's the return valve setup that causes this on Kubota units. Not that this is a problem - just normal the way they are setup.

Carl

 

[dgood1]

You might want to slip something over your lever when you have your pin in. That would give you a visual reminder to remove the pin. That is of course after you fix the busted one.

 

[ScottAR]

Full sized backhoes built since the early 70's use a mechanical locking system so they don't fall down. Case even designs the boom to go "over center" so the weight rides more on the tractor than hanging off the back.

 

[longway5]

We had an old Case 580E at work, and even with the "over center" the boom would settle over time. The only way to deal with was park it where it didn't matter if the bucket went all the way to the ground. Our new 580M also has the "over center," but because its so new, I haven't noticed if it settles any by itself. Then again, the boom lock also works on it, so you wouldn't see it settle anyway.

 

[ScottAR]

From what I can see, the Cases seem to ride better than the others... They don't see-saw much when at roading speeds. The other makes with curved booms seem to reach better though... Who's right? got me...