Backhoe Identification

It is a rather big hoe that has several coats of yellow paint over the years. The hoe pivots on a round bulkhead-like turret that rotates on a bearing on top of the round part that has large bolts about 2 inches apart all the way around and has two hydraulic hose lines in the middle of the hoe side ( opposite tractor ) that connect to the turret and control the left and right pivot movement of the entire thing. It will no longer move to the left and I believe it needs new "packings" which must be inside the round bulkhead since there aren't any side cylinders and the two hoses trace back to the left and right valve controls.

The other possibility is in the control valve which has an 0-ring on top and a screen underneath held in by a horseshoe clip. I replaced the o-ring with no effect, but didn't dismantle the screen inside.

If anyone has any ideas about whether or not it is a John Deere or how I might be able to determine what kind and model it is to get parts, I would appreciate the help.

I have some digital pictures if that would help.

Thanks !

The difference between the model 50 & 51 are very subtle but it looks at first glance like I have the model 50. The pictures of the relief valves in the relief valve stack will help me find the one that controls the lefthand side swing but I guess I'll have to contact the local JD dealer to find out if the cartridges can be tested and serviced or just need to be replaced.

Anybody know how to test them or trouble-shoot them before I buy new ones and try trial and error ??

Thanks again TB and everyone else who has contributed. I will try to return the favor.

Are there any pages that show where the hydraulic check valves or control valves are located ??

Thanks TB

Can anyone tell me where the valves are located ?
Are they the valves located just underneath the control arms that can be unscrewed and removed ??
The ones that are hollow inside with the snap ring holding in a wire screen ??

Or are they located inside the large round turrett that the arm rotates on and where the two hydraulic hoses fron the left-right control arm attach to ??

I have pictures of everything now if anyone is willing to look at them and advise me. I just need an e-mail address to send them to or instructions on how to attach or post them to this site.

My email is [email protected]

Thanks !!

I haven't been able to take pictures yet, but it sounds like it may well be a model 50 or 51 industrial. If TBScott wants to fax me a parts catalog for the model 50, you can fax to 303-239-3803. Do you have any idea where I might get a service or owners manual ???

I am also very interested in the reply from Robert indicating that it may not be the packings and could be a bad control valve. Would that be the round valve that looks like a hydraulic lifter that is hollow inside and has a snap ring holding a wire screen in the bottom ?? It also has an o-ring on the outside near the top ??? This valve sits inside the housing just below where the control handles are located and is accessed by removing a large metal threaded cap and pulling the valve out.

If that is the valve that is malfunctioning, are they servicable or do you just replace them ?? Are there any trouble-shooting techniques that will indicate where the problem is or to test the valve once I remove it ?

Thanks again to everyone and I hope I can return the favor !

The only numbers I can find on it are those on the bucket support arms and are U10718U JD and U10900U JD

There is a remnant of an old rectangular sticker with the numbers 287-09 the only ones legible.

I'll take some digital pictures of it from several angles and try to post or send them next week.

Can I attach pictures or files here ?

What would you suspect would cause it to suddenly quit rotating or pivoting to the left ?? The packings ? Since there are no cylinders on the sides of the hoe, is it likely the packings would be inside the round turret it rotates on and where the hydraulic hoses coming off the control lever are attached ?? If I removed them, would it be easier to find replacements ??

Thanks again !!!!