BH Basics & Questions TC40DA /757C

lhfarm · May 23, 2005

The dealer dropped off the TC40DA with the 757C attached late Friday. So I got a little seat time and tried to do all I've read here - like idle the tractor to slow things down. I had an old cedar stump and an old pine stump for something easy to start with. The pine popped right out, but the cedar took some digging. Next I tried clean out the driveway ditch. That was when it hit home how much I had to learn. Basically, I wanted to just clean the existing ditch, removing just a few inches of dirt. I never found the right combination of moves to make the bucket sort of skim along the ditch.

So, is there a good set of basic "moves" you need to learn? Is there a good BH 101 thread or site around? I was doing a not very good job on the ditch, so I quit. Should I find me an area on the back 40 where I can just dig to practice?

Questions - The salesman warned me not to move the 3pt lever with the BH attached. I read the manual and it indicates that the 3pt is disconnected when the BH is hooked up - correct?

I've tried reading all the posts on dismounting. One indicated that you need to reconnect one of the hoses - is that what enables/disables the 3pt?

The boom seems to leak down while sitting - normal? I've taken to putting the lock on when parking.

Is there a good description of removal without a dolly? My new barn is being build right now, but I'm a couple of weeks away from having a nice concrete surface to do the dismount.

Oh, and did I say how much fun I had /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif!

Thanks

PineRidge · May 23, 2005

Barry practice, practice, practice and pretty soon you'll be moving the sticks like they were second nature. If you have a part of the lot where you can dig some holes and then fill them in that works good for starters too.

The hydraulics to your 3 point should be inoperable if your DA is connected the same way my D model is. I suggest testing that theory when you get ready to split the BH from the tractor so you'll know for sure though. I'm betting the salesman just didn't know but better be safe than sorry.

Don't deadhead your pump. Make sure that either the BH is connected or the hydraulics are connected properly to use the 3 point in the normal mode before you start your tractor. I was told that a deadheaded pump is a short lived one and I don't think either you or I need to find out if that statement is true or not.

Use your boom and swing locks as they all leak down when you're not using them. Watch the stabilizers too as they will drop and if you try to back out of your garage with them down bad things might happen.

Have fun and be careful...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

shaley · May 23, 2005

Two great books on TLB operation are:
Operating Techniques for the Tractor Loader BH. Gary Ober
Backhoe Loader Hand book. Reinar Christian.
Both of these are a must IMO. As far as practice goes, you can get a couple of 5 gal pails and fill them with water and duct tape the handles in the up position. Set them at 12 and 2 o'clock position and practice picking them up and moving them with the bucket teeth. This is a good exercise because you don't have the added complexity of the bucket orientation being hidden by the trench. Slow the TLB down at first until you get the hang of it. Now don't spill any water /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

lhfarm · May 24, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The hydraulics to your 3 point should be inoperable if your DA is connected the same way my D model is. I suggest testing that theory when you get ready to split the BH from the tractor so you'll know for sure though. I'm betting the salesman just didn't know but better be safe than sorry.

Don't deadhead your pump. Make sure that either the BH is connected or the hydraulics are connected properly to use the 3 point in the normal mode before you start your tractor. I was told that a deadheaded pump is a short lived one and I don't think either you or I need to find out if that statement is true or not.
)</font>
I know the salesman isn't a good source of information. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I'm not sure that I understand "deadheaded". Once I unhook the two lines to the BH, do I need to reattach one to activate the 3pt?

Thanks,

pekabu · May 24, 2005

I believe deadheaded means a dead end line that doesn't allow the hydraulic fluid to circulate. On my TC24, there is a hose that connects to the hydrualic power to the 3 pt hitch. When I put the bh on, I disconnect this and plug it into the BH (so now the 3pt hitch doesn't work). The 3 pt hitch has a built in return line (no outside visible connection). The bh has a return line that I plug in the rear axle.

So hydraulic fluid needs to complete the circle at all times. If the line is disconnected, the pump keeps trying to pump but can't. Not sure what can happen but overheating the fluid is probably a sure bet.

PineRidge · May 24, 2005

Barry the answer from pekabu kinda hit the nail on the head. At the time of delivery our dealer said that it was most important to have either the BH or the normal circuit connected that powers the 3-point hydraulics before starting the engine. He went on to say that if neither was connected and the tractor was accidentally started that the pump would be put in a deadhead situation and that things very rapidly deteriorate from there.

I would expect the system relief to open at that point but if that were the case then I'm not sure how the pump might even be damaged. Anyhow i'm not willing to find out one way or the other so take the advice for what it's worth.

lhfarm · May 25, 2005

I really wonder if the dealer has ever sold a TLB before. He clearly doesn't know the equipment. I asked him about removing the BH and he just said to remove the 2 front pins and unhook the hoses (he thought there was only one until I showed him the second). Maybe since I have you all as a resource, I'll be OK.

I assume I should be educating this guy so his next customer doesn't end up with a damaged tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

dliston · May 25, 2005

Down where you unhook the hose near the middle of the tractor (by the operator platform), there is a quick-connect coupling that you hook the hose back to after removing the backhoe. Just plug the short end back on there and that completes the hydraulic path.

Doug