Quick fix for the LB1100, LS back hoe, hydraulic valve control

[Big Blue Florida]

The back hoe is mounted on our LS XG3025H, 2016

While digging out our dry pond during our month long drought, one control action stopped swinging the lower part of the back hoe.

My fix is only to get the equipment back into digging before the rain.

Will say that I was a bit disappointed in seeing the condition of the inside valve area.
The black rubber boots kept very little out as the level of corrosion was extreme.

Our tractor is kept inside & never left O/S in rain. Doesn't really get cold here in NE FL so just rain.

Most of the pix are self explanatory, but wife highly suggested I still try to talk some through what we did.
She is a retired school teacher..........

This is how the support ball should appear.

Note no ball but it was located on tray below.

Support ball out of place. Note clean & lube before fitting back on horizontal pin.

Easy to clean out clevis hole & ball but be sure to grease up.

Using something we call a sheet nut to hold the support ball in place. Located on bloody finger.

The pin is nearly 15/64 in diameter. Sheet nut had to be reamed out to 7/32. Just 1/64 less than pin.

Used 7mm 1/4 drive w/ 2'' extension.

After fingers out of the way, keep tension on the nut by way of socket & extension.

At first this is as far as we tapped into place the sheet nut.

We checked the extreme angle of articulation before finalizing sheet nut.

We did both the right & left side of the support balls but will later go back inside & clean the entire area & replace the support balls w/ new SBs.

 

[mslisaj]

This has been an issue for I dare say almost all LB1100 hoe's or at least machines that use this valve set up. My hoe is a year and a half old and someone else had a similar issue so I decided to remove the boots and have a look. While mine didn't look quite as bad as yours there was water, rust and corrosion going on. I cleaned everything up as you're doing, lubed everything well and most importantly dried everything out. I then reinstalled the first boot and sealed the bottom as it was with a zip tie but also sealed the boot to the shaft with a zip tie. When I put the outer boot in place I sealed the top of the boot to the lever with another zip tie. When you disassembled this I'm sure you noted NO ZIP TIES at the top of the boots and thus the problem.

So like you I wondered how the water got in there in the first place as I store my machine inside out of the weather. Well when these machines roll off the assembly line you can see pictures of them online of being stored outside in the weather. Also I have never seen a dealer that stored all their tractors for sale inside. Before I actually purchased my tractor I have pictures of it at the dealer out in the rain and all wet, so I certainly know where the water came from. It would save a lot of grief if the factory just used 4 more zip ties and double seal these valves as I have done and I'm sure you're going to do when you're finished.

Nice pictures and write up but this issue is not new but bringing it out again will probably cause some folks now to take theirs apart and have a look. Then do some preventive maintenanced upon reassembly.

 

[Big Blue Florida]

Not to beat a dead horse here, it would be well considered to treat these parts (inside the black rubber boots) w/ a splash of that old yellow/orange grease the military coated near everything in.
It was just sticky enough to hang around for decades after applied.

I was wondering if much of this rust etc was from the moisture coming up from the small open areas beneath the affected area. We did use 4 sip ties. Need to open up the lower area for a look see.
Sometimes a little moving air can reduce this kind of slow destruction.

Anyone owning an LB1100 should look inside these boots before you need to correct this mess during an operation of some importance.
Even drying out the area & then spray it all down w/ a sticky film could help keep things operating.

For now, it's up to us. Glad you enjoyed the pix.

 

[1stormseekr]

first 10hrs had one of the allen head screws back off that holds the base of the handle. put a touch of blue loctite and added zip ties to the top of the outer boots. Coming up on 25hrs and will go over this mt125 looking for signs of loose fastners and rubbing holes, leaks, etc..

 

[Big Blue Florida]

Have always found it a good practice to go over work equipment during the first hrs of operation.
Maybe it's a left over precautionary habit from riding MCs in my earlier misspent youth.

"1stormseekr'' you're right to check on the hoses, too.
We use a plastic fuel transport hose, split down the center where there was any 90 degree edge making an impression on any hydro hose.
There are a few needs on the back hoe.
Anyone might also check the back hoe w/ it at its extreme swings & reaches.

Not a complaint, there is some light cracking (of outer hose casing) at the very bottom of the BH where we can see the hoses getting some sharp angle when at full left or right swing.
Cannot do much about this. Just don't leave the BH at extreme left or right swing when putting it up for the day.