Backhoeboogie--a question for ya

greybeard · Nov 16, 2012

I have an old 480 Case backhoe/loader combo--about a '76 model--that one of the swing cylinders has just wore out. I'm looking but haven't been able to find one yet--the barrel is worn, so is the piston ram and leaks fluid as fast as ya pour it in. Had the seals all replaced last year and they said it was so bad they couldn't guarantee it and sure enough, it went to leaking again.

Looks like the fluid enters the back of the left cylinder, and tees to the front of the opposite cylinder and vice versa for the other side. IOW, when ya pressurize one side of the piston to push it out, the fluid from the back side of that piston is forced over to the front side of the opposite cylinder moving that piston in. I need to use the front loader right now, but leak is so bad I can't keep the backoe boom up.
Can I somehow just do away with that Tee setup, running my line directly to the good swing cylinder? (I'd rather not drop that entire backohe off the unit if I dont have too, just to use the loader--last time I did that I had heck in a bucket trying to get it back on and swore never again)

novatech · Nov 17, 2012

Well obviously I'm not Backhoe but here is my take on it. You cannot just plug one side. You could re plumb and use just one side. You would loose power but it would work. On the bad cylinder take the pressure hose and connect it to the crossover hose going to the other cylinder. If it works like I am thinking it does this should get you by temporarily.
Factory cylinders are expensive. I have taken cylinders of the same size and made them work by changing out the mounts.

denvermartinfarms · Nov 17, 2012

I know of a place that specializes in salvage case parts.It's not close to you but if you want i can get you a phone number.If it was me i would just try real hard to find a good cylinder.

greybeard · Nov 17, 2012

Thanks--I'm going to try re-plumbing it to use till I can get a replacement cylinder. I just need it to stop leaking so I can keep the boom up off the ground--don't need the swing to work and don't intend to use the backoe itself. I found a place in Russel Kansas that says they can get any cylinder--not cheap, but a lot cheaper than a new backhoe.

sim.-ang.king · Nov 17, 2012

Do you have a place near by that repairs, and rebuilds cylinders?
The piston was warped on our krause chisel plow, and leaked like your talking about. So I took her off and took it to a local joint and they lathed a new ram, and put new seals in. Probably a machinist could make a new piston for you.

greybeard · Dec 19, 2012

Took the offending cylinder off and had it redone. $165. 18 gal of hyd fluid $148. 2 new hoses-$35. 2 tubes of grease-$5. Antifreeze-$11. New battery-$155.
6 hrs of fightin the greasy, dirty, wore out from the ground up, raggedy axx thing and finally getting it primed up and started after it sitting idle for a year----about a year off my life. I came out from under that thing blacker than the POTUS.
I mechaniced in the military for 9 years, and then another 20 in civilian life before I got smart and became a machinist. How I pulled wrenches those years is beyond me--I absolutely hate it anymore--detest it!

But, thanks for the suggestions for sure!