Backhoe How to store 3PH backhoe??

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

I almost certainly will be the proud owner of a box blade soon.

This winter I will sit the backhoe on the ground, and leave the box blade on the tractor.

When I remove the Kubota BL4690A backhoe from my B2910, the stabilizer cylinders gradually leak down. I expect they would eventually let the hoe rest on the ground. I have only had it off for a few hours to put the RFM on, so I don't know how far it would go down...but it seems logical that it would go all the way.

Come to think of it, I am probably in error letting the the backhoe sit for even a couple hours supported by the stabilizers.

Do you guys normally store you backhoe with the stabilizers retracted, and with the hoe bottom sitting on solid concrete blocks or timbers or something like that? I don't have a concrete flow to store it on.

Do you retract the stabilizers so that none of the chrome shafts are showing?

Is the backhoe stable enough, if it is an a hard, level surface, to be stored resting only on its bottom with the stabilizers in the up position? Or should the stabilizers ALWAYS be kept down regardless?

The backhoe and tractor will be under roof, and partially shielded from the weather this winter, but not in a closed building.

I want to do it safe and do it right. The help offered here at TBN has been invaluable so far. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Bill in Pgh, PA...

 

[Dozernut]

I bought some jack stands to put mine on. I found some cheap ones at Wal- Mart. You might want to put some plywood down first, then put your stands on it, if you don't have a concrete floor. This will spread out the weight and keep the stands from sinking into the ground. Once on the stands, I let the stabilizers down so theres no weight on them and let the boom down so theres no weight on it also. Put some axle gease on your cylinder rods to prevent rust, wipe off in the spring.

 

[Carl_NH]

Bill,

I use wooden blocks under the base plate lowering it onto them by raising the stabilzers. I store it with stabilzers up (and covered if outside) but I tie them together with a piece of rope as they will drop over the winter.

You might find it's a bit tippy so dig a small hole where the bucket will rest then make sure the blocks are on stable ground and that should be OK.

Carl

 

[Kodiak]

I also block under the main frame to hold the weight of the hoe. But I put the stabilizers down to prevent it from tipping over. This is strictly for stability and do not support any of the weight. The boom and dipper stick are extended slightly to create a tripod. And the bucket is curled all the way to the dump position so as to not hold any water.

Currently it is stored outside for two reasons. #1 I have run out of inside storage till I get the new Machinery storage building built next year. And two as I am using it at least one or two days a week right now it is easy to get to. While it is not in use it is always covered with a tarp to protect it from the weather and from the birds that love to sit on it.

 

[centex]

I set mine on 12"x18"x6" concrete blocks with the stabilizers up initially. Of course they leak down over time. I tip the set up so mice and cats and leaves won't use it for a home.

 

[radman]

I store my backhoe exactly the same a CarlNH. I set the hoe on a 2x10-12 and leave the stabilizers retracted. To prevent leak down of the stabilizers, I pass a rope between them to tie it in an up postion. With the stabilizers up, the hoe takes up very little garage/shed space.

 

[OkieG]

Bill,
Mine is a frame-mount hoe attachment, but I think storage considerations are similar. Ditto Dozernut's use of jack stands. I just use one, centered under the hoe, more or less between the stabilizer arms. Once the jack stand is in place, I retract the stabilizers just until the hoe comes to rest on the stand. Then, with the boom/dipper angle no more than 90 degrees, lower the bucket to the ground in dump position. I leave the stabilizers contacting the ground. Be sure the jack stand is pretty well centered (left to right), cuz even with the stabilizers down, I've had the "leans" happen when the jack stand is off-center.
My hoe owners manual talks about greasing exposed cylinder rods for storage, but I'm not so sure it's necessary. My hoe was "new" when I bought it a couple years ago, but had been sitting in the dealers outdoor lot for 5 years beforehand. A customer had ordered it, but renigged by the time it arrived, so the dealer was stuck with it. This hoe was outside for 5 years and I KNOW the dealer never greased the cylinder rods. I also have to store it outside and have never greased the rods (though I inspect them often) and not a speck of rust so far. Maybe I've just been lucky. Usually, I tend toward the "more is better than less" side of preventive maintenance, but after surviving all this time rust free....

OkieG

 

[Volp]

My stabilizers do not extend to the sides but goes straight up or down. I have them fully retracted when I put it in storage on a dolly I welded from odds an ends laying about.
I just raise the backhoe with my 3PH after releasing the stabilizers and but it down on the dolly. I adjust the boom and bucket so they make a third leg on the dolly.
A picture of the dolly is attached.

 

[Volp]

And here is a picture of the backhoe resting on the dolly!

 

[Kodiak]

Nice job on building that dolly. Did you build the backhoe also?