Sherman backhoe

Apparently when I was loading implements this weekend when the backhoe moved on me the chains he has on it to keep it from drifting down while sitting apparently messed up #16 in the pic. So its now I have to get it fixed. What are my options? Can that piece be replaced? Replace the whole cylinder? Have someone rebuild it? The seals don't leak at the moment but will I guess if he ever uses it. I will attach the pic he took when I get him to send it to me. What am I looking at cost wise?

Pic

For myself I would take a fine file and smooth off any sharpness to the grooves and let it ride. You may get some leakage over time. Is it a single action or dual action cylinder?

I have no idea. I don't think I'll get away with not paying to have it fixed. It's the cylinder I circled in this pic.

It will cost a bit to replace rod. The company I work for does it. Looks to be 1 1/2 rod chrome rod sold by inch. machine piston end and weld eye on new rod.

That is a dual action, meaning it gets pressure from either side of the piston to move the arm out or in.

I have repaired damage like this on forklifts by cleaning it up and filling the groves with Devcon stainless steel putty. Devcon is available from McMaster- Carr. web site is mcmaster.com

(quoted from post at 21:53:11 10/11/15) Apparently when I was loading implements this weekend when the backhoe moved on me the chains he has on it to keep it from drifting down while sitting apparently messed up #16 in the pic. So its now I have to get it fixed. What are my options? Can that piece be replaced? Replace the whole cylinder? Have someone rebuild it? The seals don't leak at the moment but will I guess if he ever uses it. I will attach the pic he took when I get him to send it to me. What am I looking at cost wise?

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What Shawn said. Replacement 1-1/2" chrome rod will run you about $25-$30 per foot plus machining costs.

TOH

You are correct that its 1 1/2. Thank you.

Sounds expensive. On the plus side its
almost winter so he will have to wait till
spring.

Can't hurt to try that! Thank you!

Good to know! I was reading that whatever seals are in it...maybe the word was chevron? Are more forgiving than the replacements.

(quoted from post at 08:45:03 10/12/15) Sounds expensive. On the plus side its
almost winter so he will have to wait till
spring.

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Actually I thought that was pretty cheap ;-)

TOH

I would try to file it out.

I have a Sherman backhoe on a 641. It was used to dig graves since new with a 36 inch bucket. It s wore out.

I think every cylinder on it has minor nicks and dings.

They don't leak enough I'm going to replace any of them.

Same kind of thing can happen from rust and pitting, and in that case, I've removed the rust, used just enough abrasive,(sometimes scotch brite) to get that done and smooth enough so there is no burr to damage the sweep/dust seals and internal seals, hard to say what it will do long term if done that way, might get a weep or a bit more if that deformed metal abrades those seals. I have cylinders on an old fisher snow plow that have rust pits, before using it, I just clean them up and they are a lot sharper, these raised up rust spots. Not doing this would definitely tear seals and cause leaks, but that's never happened as I just clean them and oil them a bit before use.

Sounds as if he should have collared those chains to prevent damage, definitely not a good idea to chain up, around or near a cylinder rod in general, could have happened at anytime if they were prone to slip onto the cylinder rod surface and do that. One material was definitely harder than the other given whats in the photo.

Im a cheap a**!

I will tell him to do that not that he will listen I can think of maybe 3 times its been used and not once to dig a hole

Here's a few pics kinda hard to see the chain but..after looking closer at some pictures im NOT convinced that this just happened. The hoe drifts to the right side when driving and it sure looks like in the second pic the chain is awful close to the cylinder.

He originally had straps holding it. Im guessing that wasn't good enough.

A friend has the same model Sherman hoe and I have run it many times. It is one of the first generation hoes and had a useful life, but it is prone to problems with damaging all the cylinders. If you want to use it and not be worried by a little leakage, then carefully file the high spots of the gouge until they are the same height as the undamaged rod. Do not file any deeper. This is not high pressure hydraulics like used in today's equipment, so leakage with some nicks is minimal. Use a mill file, not a rough bast..d file. The original seals may be leather and they have a great tolerance for imperfections on the rod. As one of the old timers around here once advised "if it ain't leaking 5 gallons in a day, don't bother fixin it". He had a big JD excavator, a cat dozer, and old but big farm tractors and equipment.

Check that rod for straightness. It may have gotten bent during its mishap. I have straightened out similar rods in my hydraulic press. It is possible to do without disassembling the cylinder, but that one is big and heavy.

Don't put too much $$ into a fix. That hoe is just not worth much. All of the pivots will be worn and sloppy, the hydraulic hoses are old and probably cracked from age. The pump probably leaks (most did). It is a slow digging machine and not very good with its geometry. It is probably from the late 40's or maybe early 50's. Usable if you can fix it cheaply.

Paul in MN
Good luck.

I didn't even think of the possibility of it being bent. The hoses are not in the best shape, I don't think the pump leaks, however there is a crack somewhere on the framework which is why he doesn't use it that someone is supposed to weld for him. The loader frame has a nice crack so every time you use it you have to add a gallon of hydraulic fluid. Because he got this one in our settlement its a major problem. Im also no longer allowed to touch it

You can see that in the photos, and the mar on the cylinder appears to kind of match chain links, not that you are on trial here,LOL ! but it may have happened anytime the chain was against the cylinder. Nylon straps are nice to handle large cylinders, we used them when changing out large excavator cylinders as I recall way back when. The only drawback is the sun/UV light does take their toll on them over time, same with cuts, nicks or abrasion, but a new and heavy duty strap of the right size and strength should not mar a hydraulic cylinder like is shown in the photo.