Backhoe I think my Woods backhoe has lost power!

[dieselsmith]

I have a 1995 7500 3pt. backhoe. I think it has lost power. It has the pto pump and resivoir. I bought it used and it is in pretty good shape. I have never run a brand new one, what could be leading me to think this? Could the pump be getting weak?

 

[BadDog]

Pumps and cylinders can definitely wear out over time. Neither should be very expensive to repair or replace.

What powers the pump? Your PTO, or a separate engine? Are you running the PTO at the correct speed (should be 540rpm).

 

[slowrev]

Does the backhoe have a filter on it ? If so a filter and fluid change would be the first thing I would try. Old Fluid and clogged filters can/will make hydraulics perform very poorly.

Ben

 

[dieselsmith]

All new fluid and filter and a pto driven pump.

 

[hayden]

I think the best way to tell for sure is to put a pressue gauge on the system. I did this on my tractor hydraulics by inserting a T fitting in the inlet line at the loader control and permanently attaching a $15 pressure gauge. When I did, I discovered that my tractor hydraulics were running a good bit below spec, and lead me to adjust the relief value to jack up the pressure to spec setting. It made a nice improvement in loader performance.

I keep meaning to do the same for my BH (same setup as your's except it Kubota, not Woods), but other things keep jumping ahead of it in the queue......

The woods manual should tell you what the relief pressure should be. It's probably around 2000 PSI, but I don't know for sure.

If you do this, and discover the pressure is low (you will have to operate the BH to some extreme like curling the bucket to it's stops to build up pressure and activate the relief valve), then find the relief valve adjuster and try cranking it up. If that works, you are good to go. If you can't increase the pressue that way, then either the valve is defective or the pump is worn and can't generate the required pressure.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.