back hoe storage

[nhkabotab7800]

before we get too much snow so i can not get to my back hoe, wondering what everyone thinks about storing back hoe with stabalizer arms down?

i put a cement block under the hoe before i took it off and it seems like leaving the arms down would make it more stable while in storage. is that a bad thing to do? will it damage something?

the attached picture is not the best, the back hoe is under the black rubber roofing i draped over it.

 

[jaybrad]

I don't know why it would hurt anything, but by the time Spring rolls around, I suspect your BH will be resting on its base.

I made a dolly for mine and rolled it into a storage area in the garage. My stabilizer arms are up with a bungy cord to keep them upright over the winter.

I know my BH is red, but I got the idea from the Kubota forum, so it I know it works on an orange BH, too. ;-)

Jay

 

[chopped]

What I do is I made a box out of wood. but the cement block will work, To sit on the base.
I also used a 4x4 small block to set betweent he dipper tube to stop the leakdown there.
and have the legs up and strapped in that postion.seems to work we,, compact and if the ground dont give way its some stable
like the doll

 

[Willl]

Only problem I could think of would be the shiny exposed cylinder rods possibly rusting. A thin coat of oil wouldn't hurt.

 

[Ductape]

I see no problem as long as you are SURE you won't need it till after the spring thaw, as the shoes will be frozen to the ground. I second covering all exposed cylinder rods so they don't rust. The rust pits destroy seals fast. Just buy some inexpensive grease and use a latex glove on your hand and smear grease on the chrome cylinder rods. I wipe down in the spring will then be needed.

 

[KJM]

I don't know why it would hurt anything, but by the time Spring rolls around, I suspect your BH will be resting on its base.

Jay

I solved that problem with a couple of pieces of angle iron the right length. I put them in between the rod end and the top of the cylinder. It leaks down just a tad and then the angle holds it propped.

Of course, the curl, main and dipper rams slowly leak down which causes the hoe to kind of "sag" - but I can deal with that. The main and dipper rams are fully enclosed by the arms - I can't do the same trick on them unfortunately.

The dolly is a nice idea - when I get the shed finished and don't have all my gear sitting outside anymore, I'll certainly make one. Should help "compact" the space needed!

/Kevin

 

[rtdiggr]

I would try to close up the cylinders as much as possible. If it is not possible then cover the exposed cylinders with oil.

Shane

 

[john_bud]

I had mine outside for 2 winters. Put down some plywood under it, then rested it on 4 jack stands. Stabilizers down on top of pavers. If you don't put plywood under it, the ground will soften up and it will sink and possibly fall over.




The cylinder rams are not bare steel. They are chrome. Do you grease coat your bumper? It gets hit with salt spray, etc and lasts a long time. It would last about forever if not for the salt.

jb

 

[radioman]

rams may be chrome, but it wouldn't hurt to put a thin coating of petroleum jelly on the rams. this is just to keep it from oxidizing with the air.