BH stabilizer leak fixed easily

[ragkar]

I was warned a year and a half ago when I bought my Case that it had a left stabilizer oil leak. The Case is high time (5500 plus) and sure enough, this spring I found that it had leaked a good bit. I had a four by ten foot area of oil drippings to deal with.
Now I talk a bit with my tractor owning friends and one had told me how the ram on his splitter had pitted when he stored it with the ram extended. He strongly suggested that I store my tractor with the stabilizer up as that would weather protect the ram. It made sense and that's what I did this winter.
Anyhow, I moved the tractor and after two weeks I had much oil drippings from that stabilizer and I began to ask about for repair guys.
I had the good fortune of talking to two guys with much experience running heavy metal and they both advised to park the tractor with the stabilizers down and the bh bucket on the ground. "They all leak. You need to relieve the system pressure." advised one.
Well I took their advice and a month later there has been no leaking. Problem solved.

 

[wdchyd]

Ragkar,

Someday you'll still have to repack that stabilizer cyl cuz hydraulic leaks very rarely fix themselves but as far as the weather protection during no-use time coat the exposed chrome rods with any type of junk grease with an old paint brush ....that'll protect 'em....

 

[gwdixon]

Fluid Film also does an excellent job of protection.

Coated my plow shares, shins, and moldboards with it over winter and it doesn't have a bit of rust anywhere.

On the stabilizers, a cheap ratchet strap between them will hold them in position.

 

[ragkar]

gwdixon do you mean I should use a ratchet strap to hold them up with the rams retracted?

 

[gwdixon]

gwdixon do you mean I should use a ratchet strap to hold them up with the rams retracted?

Yes, hook one end of the strap to one foot and the other end to the other foot in the up position. Or, if the strap is long enough, just make a loop around both stabilizers and tighten the loop.

I welded a couple of links of large chain on each foot to make it easier to hook them up but it is not really necessary.

You can relieve the pressure on the stabilizers after they are strapped together by just opening the valve lever for each leg - engine off.

Your backhoe arm should have a transportation pin that locks it in place. After it is locked in the lever can be used to relieve pressure on it as well. (With the engine off of course.)