tcreeley
Elite Member
I have a mini Northstar Trencherman backhoe that I picked up 20+ some years ago from what was then Northern Hydraulics. (Modified since from 5 hp to 8hp and 1.2 gpm pump to 11 gpm 2 stage pump- faster)
Lent it to a friend and it came back with a screwed up cylinder. I ordered a couple seal kits- couldn't figure out how to do it- so got a new cylinder. The seal kit has been hanging around 18-19 years. I've borrowed an o ring or two. But I was digging a culvert trench a few days ago when the dipper cylinder started shooting fluid. In a rush I looked online and called Northern Tool- After forever- they informed me the backhoe was discontinued in 2002. I asked them to check some numbers on a seal kit I managed to find and they matched. It has 2"bore, 1" shaft, 12 stroke welded cylinder by Prince. They said they would call back about an alternative cylinder. (haven't yet)
2 days ago on TBN I found a manual for a Bradco backhoe whose cylinders looked mighty similar. It had a nice section on replacing seals- and removing the gland ring. I broke down and bought a spanner wrench ($36) with 1/4" pins- adjustable to up to 3 ". With that I was able to coax out the square rod so I could pull the shaft out. That's where I got stuck last time.
The leather backing seals to an O ring were gone. The major shaft seal was crumbling. I got them in- replace 2 shaft seals and 2 back up leather washers. I didn't have enough for anything else. I got it all back together and back on the backhoe- and it didn't leak! I still have to work on the 8 hp engine- wants to stumble when the backhoe is tipped. I had 10w30 in it and it was spitting oil out by the air intake filter. I switched to 30 wt and have less oil spitting. I have to play with the choke and governor to keep it going- then it steadies. I hate small engines- but it still keeps going. The bucket wobbles because the bearing surfaces are so worn. Next year I;ll get it welded.
Feels good knowing I can rebuild the cylinders when I need to...just need to find a place to order the seal kits reliably. I try to do it all from home. This is the spanner I bout- Armstrong 3" adjustable, 1/4 " pins. You could always make one I suppose.View attachment 277941
This is the manual I used from TBN.
View attachment 277940
Lent it to a friend and it came back with a screwed up cylinder. I ordered a couple seal kits- couldn't figure out how to do it- so got a new cylinder. The seal kit has been hanging around 18-19 years. I've borrowed an o ring or two. But I was digging a culvert trench a few days ago when the dipper cylinder started shooting fluid. In a rush I looked online and called Northern Tool- After forever- they informed me the backhoe was discontinued in 2002. I asked them to check some numbers on a seal kit I managed to find and they matched. It has 2"bore, 1" shaft, 12 stroke welded cylinder by Prince. They said they would call back about an alternative cylinder. (haven't yet)
2 days ago on TBN I found a manual for a Bradco backhoe whose cylinders looked mighty similar. It had a nice section on replacing seals- and removing the gland ring. I broke down and bought a spanner wrench ($36) with 1/4" pins- adjustable to up to 3 ". With that I was able to coax out the square rod so I could pull the shaft out. That's where I got stuck last time.
The leather backing seals to an O ring were gone. The major shaft seal was crumbling. I got them in- replace 2 shaft seals and 2 back up leather washers. I didn't have enough for anything else. I got it all back together and back on the backhoe- and it didn't leak! I still have to work on the 8 hp engine- wants to stumble when the backhoe is tipped. I had 10w30 in it and it was spitting oil out by the air intake filter. I switched to 30 wt and have less oil spitting. I have to play with the choke and governor to keep it going- then it steadies. I hate small engines- but it still keeps going. The bucket wobbles because the bearing surfaces are so worn. Next year I;ll get it welded.
Feels good knowing I can rebuild the cylinders when I need to...just need to find a place to order the seal kits reliably. I try to do it all from home. This is the spanner I bout- Armstrong 3" adjustable, 1/4 " pins. You could always make one I suppose.View attachment 277941
This is the manual I used from TBN.
View attachment 277940
