Backhoe LITW backhoe on T273

[flyer91]

Well guys .... I'm in a walking boot now and getting ready to get back into the repair of my LITW backhoe hydraulics.
During the convalescing for my broken leg, my brother came up and replaced the PRV (pressure relief valve) and some O-rings that Steve at Valley View had sent.
And as soon as we fired up the tractor other O-rings promptly started to leak.
So .... I suspect that most (if not all) were damaged by what appears to have been a stuck (or set too high) PRV, and an over-pressure situation in the hoe's hydraulics.

I contacted Steve this week to let him know I was ready to get back into it, and he relayed to me that he also is having issues with NIMCO, and is looking for an alternative supplier.
As you saw in my earlier post, I too found Nimco to be less than helpful.
Steve volunteered to take apart another new valve block to obtain parts (because Nimco are a bunch of nimrods) and also said that he would just swap out the entire block if needed.
I'm not pressed to get back into 'immediate operation, so I hate to make him tear apart a perfectly working machine.
Consequently I've asked him to first try to obtain either a complete set of O-rings, or the at least the spec's so I could buy them from another source.
Unfortunately he didn't feel that he would get anywhere trying to get anything from Nimco, but said he would try.
So the problem is still Nimco and their complete lack of any satisfactory response.

I know Steve will get me going again, but I would advise anyone looking for a backhoe to stay 'far' away from LITW until they get a new supplier for the valve block.
A good warranty but no parts to effect repairs, is like breasts on a bull.
It might look OK from a distance, but once you get close you'll see their is something 'extra' that isn't too cool. :-(
Once mine is fixed it will be on Craig's list faster than a wet dog can fling water.

 

[win.jones]

Hello Flyer91,


I am looking at purchasing a tractor and the TYM273 sounds great.. How is it holding up. I live in Northern California near Grass Valley. I have sloping land and I am thinking of getting the TYM T330HST or the T400 with FEL and BH. I have located a dealer in Los Molinos, Lane Tractor Sales. I have been qouted $22,000 for the 330 and $25,000 for the 400 that is including the FEL and BH. I have never owed a tractor and I am not sure how the TYM's hold up compared to Kubota, Kioti, JD, ect.. I like the pics of tractor in action. Look forward to reading an update from you.

WJ

 

[flyer91]

Well, it's getting near 3 years with this T273/LITW backhoe and it is still broken (blowing O-rings as fast as I replace them).
I've had about 50 hours of running from it and @ ~$4k for the hoe, at best that's $80/hr until it became a boat anchor.
Steve at Valley View has offered me a few options, but all mean throwing significantly more good money after bad, because at this point we don't know if it's the backhoe or an issue with the T273.
So I'm giving up on it and going to let it leak and use it only if I need it for emergencies.

If you are thinking of buying an LITW backhoe, I would advise you to think again.
This thing is a POS, and it's warranty is useless!!
To be honest, had I to do it over again I would have bought JD, and had local service.
In my experience, this TYM/LITW is just a "use a few times and throw" away product.

 

[DK35vince]

The backhoe should have its own pressure relief valve.
Sounds like your problems are all with the backhoe and not the tractor.

 

[flyer91]

The backhoe should have its own pressure relief valve.
Sounds like your problems are all with the backhoe and not the tractor.

I'm on the 3'rd one.
The original, a replacement, and the one that came with the second control block.
The current thought is that there is possibly some obstruction in the TYM's return.
I've checked the check valve and the QD, they are both working fine and with no debris in them.
when I replaced the valve block it was a total replacement with all the spools, control levers and etc, and as indicated the O-rings just keep blowing.
I am tired of working on it, and am very disappointed that the only help I got was from the dealer alone.
No LITW help, nor TYM help whatsoever.
When I tried to contact the valve mfg they told me they will not talk to me about it, and I have to go to the dealer ..... who has (IMO) gone beyond the call of duty, but in the end needs more money to help me get a piece of equipment (that hasn't worked right from about 40 hours from new) fixed or replaced.
But not knowing exactlty were the problem is, has me either looking at taking a chance on a replacement hoe of any make, or throwing another ~$800 to get a pump and tank, then hope the problem is in the tractor or I'm still chasing a goose.
Not a very good bet in view of what has already been done to try and fix it.
So ....... it just sits in my equipment shed, looking the part.

 

[Tom59]

I'm on the 3'rd one.
The original, a replacement, and the one that came with the second control block.
The current thought is that there is possibly some obstruction in the TYM's return.
I've checked the check valve and the QD, they are both working fine and with no debris in them.
when I replaced the valve block it was a total replacement with all the spools, control levers and etc, and as indicated the O-rings just keep blowing.
I am tired of working on it, and am very disappointed that the only help I got was from the dealer alone.
No LITW help, nor TYM help whatsoever.
When I tried to contact the valve mfg they told me they will not talk to me about it, and I have to go to the dealer ..... who has (IMO) gone beyond the call of duty, but in the end needs more money to help me get a piece of equipment (that hasn't worked right from about 40 hours from new) fixed or replaced.
But not knowing exactlty were the problem is, has me either looking at taking a chance on a replacement hoe of any make, or throwing another ~$800 to get a pump and tank, then hope the problem is in the tractor or I'm still chasing a goose.
Not a very good bet in view of what has already been done to try and fix it.
So ....... it just sits in my equipment shed, looking the part.

Can't your dealer allow you to test a TYM hoe? Mine has never leaked or acted up in any way north of 100hours and some serious digging. Seems it would help with process of elimination.

 

[flyer91]

Actually Steve at Valley view has graciously offered to replace the hoe, or allow full credit towards a TYM hoe, or provide a pump and tank at cost.
The problem is that since the LITW hoe has had O-rings replaced, then it's entire valve block replaced, then more O-rings replaced after verifying the return line is not obstructed, there is some uncertainty to exactly what/where the issue is/lies (hoe or TYM).

I'm in central California and shipping the hoe back to Oregon, then shipping for a replacement back to me again, is too costly in view of not knowing if the tractor has some issue (blockage in it's hydraulics) and spending the money for a pump and tank to bypass any problem the TYM might have, is also too costly a gamble in view of this unknown.
I'm retired and am totally past my patience, but more importantly ..... my abilities/tools to further troubleshoot and take this thing apart and rebuild it again ...... all to no avail.

The real problem here is that there is no local service for either the hoe or tractor, and I'm just not willing to throw any more money or time at it.

Unfortunately a 1 year warranty and a 5 year (LITW and TYM respectively) are meaningless if you do not live within driving distance of a dealer, or it only provides a "do it yourself" approach to repairs, with more out of pocket for shipping, which ultimately ends up (in my case) with me having to further spend the additional best part of a $1000 (or more) with no certainty that will fix the problem.
No one from LITW or TYM was being sneaky here, it's all in the warranty. I was just hoping for more from them than to just leave it on me and Steve.
Apparently LITW and TYM don't provide any more than "go fish" in these circumstances.

The lost time is not of concern to me because I'm retired, but if I was needing the TLB to actually work for more then the 40 hours
(basically a single week of use) after purchasing it, I'd be up a creek that a JD purchase would simply not have had me boating down without a paddle and no sign of a port.

So ...... my caution is to walk away 'far away' from any LITW choice, and only opt for a TYM hoe for a TYM tractor.
If you don't have local support for a TYM, think long and hard about going that way too.
You could very well end up being me. Holding two pieces of paper that are useless warranties (too crispy for even remedial use) and a broken POS TLB.

 

[Tom59]

Actually Steve at Valley view has graciously offered to replace the hoe, or allow full credit towards a TYM hoe, or provide a pump and tank at cost.
The problem is that since the LITW hoe has had O-rings replaced, then it's entire valve block replaced, then more O-rings replaced after verifying the return line is not obstructed, there is some uncertainty to exactly what/where the issue is/lies (hoe or TYM).

I'm in central California and shipping the hoe back to Oregon, then shipping for a replacement back to me again, is too costly in view of not knowing if the tractor has some issue (blockage in it's hydraulics) and spending the money for a pump and tank to bypass any problem the TYM might have, is also too costly a gamble in view of this unknown.
I'm retired and am totally past my patience, but more importantly ..... my abilities/tools to further troubleshoot and take this thing apart and rebuild it again ...... all to no avail.

The real problem here is that there is no local service for either the hoe or tractor, and I'm just not willing to throw any more money or time at it.

Unfortunately a 1 year warranty and a 5 year (LITW and TYM respectively) are meaningless if you do not live within driving distance of a dealer, or it only provides a "do it yourself" approach to repairs, with more out of pocket for shipping, which ultimately ends up (in my case) with me having to further spend the additional best part of a $1000 (or more) with no certainty that will fix the problem.
No one from LITW or TYM was being sneaky here, it's all in the warranty. I was just hoping for more from them than to just leave it on me and Steve.
Apparently LITW and TYM don't provide any more than "go fish" in these circumstances.

The lost time is not of concern to me because I'm retired, but if I was needing the TLB to actually work for more then the 40 hours
(basically a single week of use) after purchasing it, I'd be up a creek that a JD purchase would simply not have had me boating down without a paddle and no sign of a port.

So ...... my caution is to walk away 'far away' from any LITW choice, and only opt for a TYM hoe for a TYM tractor.
If you don't have local support for a TYM, think long and hard about going that way too.
You could very well end up being me. Holding two pieces of paper that are useless warranties (too crispy for even remedial use) and a broken POS TLB.

Rent a trailer? I wouldn't blame whatever you aren't sure of either. If you know that's a different story.
FWIW, there are others here using non-TYM hoes.

 

[SHIFTY]

To prove the tractor you can easily place a test gauge to the pressure line to the hoe to read the tractor, If the pressure is to high the relief valve can be adjusted. Im sure its fine, Id suggest that you upgrade to TYM's backhoe

 

[myyaz33]

I'd second the "TYM Backhoe" idea. If the dealer is offering, take him up on it. I understand the hesitation to throw more money at it however you really don't have many options. I have a difficult time believing the problem is with the tractor.