Backhoe Must I Allow Total Settling of Hydraulics When I Store My Backhoe?

[VaBeekeeper]

Hey folks,

I'm about to store my backhoe attachment (Woods BH75) on a dolly I built for the purpose. This will be the second time I've done it. The last time I stored the backhoe, when I shut off the tractor and worked all the controls until nothing moved, it was a little unnerving to see how abruptly they settled into a different position than what I had parked them at, and their final position made reattaching the backhoe more difficult than I had hoped. So I ask you: is it okay to work the hydraulics just enough to make the subframe clear the tractor, or do I need to remove all pressure prior to final storage? In your experience, how much do hydraulics in good working condition settle of their own over months of storage?

 

[theg]

It may be hard to disconnect with pressure still in lines. Just a thought.

 

[Redlands Okie]

You can always open one of the fittings on the backhoe to bleed off the pressure after you have it off the tractor if you need to

 

[Grandad4]

Settling is normal unless you have cylinders with check-valves. I always tried to park the backhoe so I could relieve all pressure in the hydraulic circuits while it was parked. Three reasons: 1) If it's under pressure, it will be hard to reconnect the couplers the next time you need to mount it on the tractor, 2) Under pressure, you might get some slight leaking or dripping, 3) It's safer to have everything as neutral as possible, on the ground and balanced, so nobody accidentally bumps a control and causes something to shift or fall over. I liked having the outriggers on the ground for additional stability, but some guys use a bungee strap or something to hold them up when parked.

 

[jimainiac]

I have a Woods BH9000 backhoe that is equipped with it's own separate pto driven hydraulics. After I remove it from the tractor I let it settle onto blocks at all points, especially under where the main boom swivels. this assures it will be in the same place when I come back for it. I also let the jacks down lightly onto blocks. When I'm satisfied with the position, I pull the pump off the pto shaft.

 

[CincyFlyer]

It may be hard to disconnect with pressure still in lines. Just a thought.

With an open center hydraulic system, there will only be two or three lines, and none will be under pressure.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Couldn't you reattach your hydraulic lines when you want to hook back up and lift the backhoe back to the proper position?

 

[LD1]

Settle everything.

Don't see what you could have done that makes reattaching difficult. First thing you do is hook up hydraulics, then you have all your functions to move it where you want.

If you don't settle everything you will have a very difficult time hooking up hydraulics next time. That residual pressure will leak back by the valve and be looking for a return to tank. When there is none, pressure will build and you won't be able to hook.

Not a good idea cracking fittings to bleed pressure. That wastes oil, an can cause things to move , maybe where you don't expect them to. Bleeding with the tractor still does the same thing, but saves your oil and with your butt in the seat you ain't gonna get hurt

 

[CincyFlyer]

And if you cannot get the quick connections to go together, a brass drift or some other tool can depress the ball or poppet and release the pressure. Shielded by a rag, of course, 'cuz it will go everywhere. I modified a puller with an aluminum end to do this. Part of my tool kit now!

 

[David_Kb7uns]

The Bradco 408 backhoe that I have has a high pressure needle valve that you can open to bleed of the pressure to make hooking up the quick connect fittings easy.

David