Broken backhoe: repair questions

familyman · May 1, 2007

The situation; the bucket cylinder rod snapped on my Bush Hog BH650, and punched a hole in the top of the dipper arm.

After removing the damaged cylinder, I ordered the new rod and a cylinder seal kit, as well as a new lower pin.

Question 1: How hard is it to rebuild a cylinder, and what are the steps?

Question 2: I want to weld a plate over the hole in the dipper arm, to reinforce it. A friend at work said I shouldn't because it's cast iron (?). That doesn't sound right to me, can someone educate me there?

AndyMA · May 1, 2007

The cylinder is not hard to rebuild. Just take it apart and pay attention. Put it back together the same way.

I'll bet ya the dipper arm is just plate steel. The one on my excavator and many I have seen have been welded in the say you propose.

Andy

familyman · May 1, 2007

I didn't think it was cast iron - cast would shatter, this was a deep dent with a hole.
I'm glad to hear that rebuilding the cylinder should be easy. My act of stupidity aside, the backhoe has done alot of work, and done it well.

john_bud · May 1, 2007

familyman said:
I didn't think it was cast iron - cast would shatter, this was a deep dent with a hole.
I'm glad to hear that rebuilding the cylinder should be easy. My act of stupidity aside, the backhoe has done alot of work, and done it well.

Before you order parts, roll the cylinder tube across a flat or check it with a machinists straight edge. If the rod went thru plate steel, the cylinder may be bent. Just a thought to check.

jb