Backhoe fell over and died.

Diggin It · Oct 10, 2020

newbury said:
Tractordata specs on the 4520 loader lists 3800 lbs lift to full height.
It should easily be able to carefully stand the hoe up with a little judicious rigging and a few spotters.
Getting it upright may make other problems go away.

Positioning may be difficult:

vsumoski said:
My location makes it difficult, a level spot on 'terraced' hillside.

That may impede a tripod too. Then there's the weight. I've used a tripod of 4x4s and one ton chain fall. It wasn't easy to get everything aligned to be able to lift. For the weight of that hoe, he may need to go bigger which will make it even more difficult for someone not in top health.

vsumoski · Oct 10, 2020

newbury said:
Getting it upright may make other problems go away.

Why, is there some kind of 'tilt switch' like check valve in the hoe's SCV perhaps?

rademamj1 · Oct 10, 2020

Attach a tractor tie down chain (min 12' length) to the loader bucket, keep it short to moderate in length, and wrap it around the backhoe, and lift the backhoe into position for the mounting on the blocks. Your loader can handle the weight. Put some implement on the rear as counter ballast. This could take an entire day to get it repositioned, then once in proper position, I suspect your BH hydraulics will be just fine and operational.

Egon · Oct 10, 2020

Tripod support works well on uneven terrain. Proper sized tree trunks work well for tripods.

A gin pole arrangement with chain fall would also work. It would be quite easy to set up with a tractor with no major heavy lifting involved.Then a third leg could be added with the chain fall or just use the gin pole.

vsumoski · Oct 10, 2020

rademamj1 said:
Attach a tractor tie down chain (min 12' length) to the loader bucket, keep it short to moderate in length, and wrap it around the backhoe, and lift the backhoe into position for the mounting on the blocks. Your loader can handle the weight. Put some implement on the rear as counter ballast. This could take an entire day to get it repositioned, then once in proper position, I suspect your BH hydraulics will be just fine and operational.

That was pretty much my first attempt, placing cinder blocks and timbers underneath while going along until the tractor started tipping; at this point I decided that hydraulics were going to be more controllable than gravity (working alone). It's looking like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and replace the 3 point linkages (heavy and not fun anymore), mount the brushhog with a lot of cinder blocks on deck, and take my time, using some well positioned ropes and metal t-posts, to keep it from tipping over to it's other side.

Dutch445 · Oct 10, 2020

also if you are going to try to reposition the hoe, you may need to remove the couplers on the ends of the hoses and you may need to tie the control valve in the position
you are trying to work the cylinders, ie the swing motion lever , push it in the direction you want it to go and tie it off there so oil is not holding the cylinder /boom rigid..

Egon said:
Hook on to the bucket and pull the boom straight. Then get some blocks and a hydraulic jack and start the slow process of getting it upright.

The tripod and chain fall will be the easiest and fastest way.

Forget the temporary hydraulic hookup and just work on getting the hoe upright.

vsumoski · Oct 10, 2020

MossRoad said:
Another way, I guess, would be to measure the temperature of the loop of hose when the machine is cold, run it for 10 minutes, and measure the temp of the hose again. If it's significantly warmer, you know there's fluid going through it.

Ran at PTO speed for about 5 minutes and the hoses got good and warm. I'll post some pix of the hookup.