Backhoe swing cylinder loose

[Douglas]

Hello: I have a john deere 8b backhoe on a 950 tractor. Doing some excavating and discovered that one of the two swing cylinders is loose. It is attached by a long threaded rod with lock nuts compressing a spring. Do I just tighten till secure? Tried to look up this topic (and even downloaded a so called technical manual) without an answer. Probably a simple question. Has anyone else had this issue?

[leonz]

Before you do anything be sure that the rod eye bushing and barrel eye bushing are still intact and the cylinder and rod will not move-if the cylinder rod eye bushing is shot or if the barrel eye busing is shot you have to replace them.

The pins should be tight as well and if they are not .......... you have to replace them too.

[Douglas]

I took a closer look today and found out that the backhoe can be swung side to side (perhaps six inches) and both pistons will move in and out a bit.. Tried tightening the piston mount nuts equally on both sides and it seems that the free play in the backhoe swing is some better but NOT tight..(wish I had a tech manual)

[Douglas]

Thanks for the response. Bushings are tight. Just heard from JD and will call for a serial specific tech manual in the morning and see if this is normal or not.