OP
Mike in Dewey
New member
Finally removed the swing frame assembly after using the sawzall to cut the stuck, upper horizontal retaining pin that connects the swing frame assembly to the boom. Surprisingly easy to do. Took the unit to a local machinist who pressed out the two pieces of retaining pin and then bored out the initial problem holes and pressed in hardened bushings. The cost was half the cost of a new unit - much more expensive than I had hoped but several dinners of beans and franks over the remainder of the year should balance out the budget. Bigger hammers finally convinced the swing cylinder bushing that it should finally, reluctantly push through. Good thing too because I could not find a saw blade that would even scratch that steel. The inside grooving was pretty gunked-up, likely preventing grease from moving through, and a chunk of the bushing at the bottom had broken off. My guess is that happened when the pin was slapping around in the oversized holes. This weekend was supposed to be reassembly time but the new horizontal retaining pin got lost in the mail. Actually, it broke through the cardboard box that it was in. Right on time, FedEx dropped off an empty package instead of one that should have weighed just over 5 pounds. Hopefully that pin is rolling around one of their trucks or in a warehouse instead of inside an airplane.
One more question - removing the hydraulic lines from the boom and dipperstick resulted in hydraulic fluid leaking all over the ground. That of course will need to be replaced, but does the air in the hoses and cylinders need to be bleeded out or will that happen when I connect the backhoe back to the tractor? The users manual does not mention needing to purge the air, but my pea brain seems to think that it should go somewhere to prevent sluggish cylinders. Just one more area of knowledge where I find myself lacking.
One more question - removing the hydraulic lines from the boom and dipperstick resulted in hydraulic fluid leaking all over the ground. That of course will need to be replaced, but does the air in the hoses and cylinders need to be bleeded out or will that happen when I connect the backhoe back to the tractor? The users manual does not mention needing to purge the air, but my pea brain seems to think that it should go somewhere to prevent sluggish cylinders. Just one more area of knowledge where I find myself lacking.
