Winter Work

When it comes to maintaining your hardworking backhoe loader, the best policy is to fix every nagging problem long before the new season begins

Not long ago, you probably turned that last pile of earth for the season with your trusty backhoe tractor loader. As Mother Nature transformed the ground to concrete, you parked the machine in the yard or shed to let it hibernate until it’s time to fire it up again in spring.

The temptation might have been to half-heartedly wash it down and forget about it. But the guys who maintain these machines on a regular basis have a different take on preparing your backhoe for winter slumber. They say you should give it a thorough once-over, then fix every problem you can find before you put it in mothballs.

“We recommend you do machine inspection in the fall so you can determine what sort of repairs can be done during scheduled downtime in the winter,” says Bill Linssen, a product support manager for FABCO Equipment Inc., the Caterpillar dealer in Green Bay, Wis. “With the small window of opportunity you have for a work season in Wisconsin, any day lost is lost for good. If a machine is down in the summer, you never gain that production time back.”

Manufacturers produce detailed maintenance schedules for all equipment. By following those guidelines, you can successfully address before-failure repairs. “What contractors have to remember is that they’re protecting their investment,” Linssen says. “A few steps taken in good safety and storage procedures protect their investment and their livelihood.”

Clean the machine

The first order of business is to give your backhoe a thorough cleaning, inside and out. A good power washing of the implement and loader will reveal issues you might need to address, says Dale Schraufnagel, of Schraufnagel Implement Inc., in Lomira, Wis. Clean in every crevice, nook and cranny to rid the backhoe of a season’s dirt and grime. Then turn to the cab. Use appropriate cleaners to restore the seat and other vinyl surfaces, and dejunk the space. Give it a good vacuum cleaning and window washing.

Cleaning doesn’t just preserve cosmetics. Linssen says a buildup of dirt can trap moisture and cause corrosion to chrome items. Debris can also damage the hydraulic system when it wedges into pins and loader and bucket linkages. It can also inhibit pedal movement in the cab.

Check wear points

You can expect that wear parts in the system will need replacing. Inspect, clean and refresh pivot points, bucket points, and anywhere you have grease fittings. Check bushings and bearings and make sure the moving parts operate smoothly.

Slate for overhaul

A great reason for end-of-season maintenance is that it helps you identify major problems that require a winter overhaul, says Schraufnagel. In a thorough inspection, you can track nagging oil leaks or other problems to their source. A slow period is when you want to diagnose a major problem with the engine, transmission or differential. As you put the equipment away, order necessary parts for a major job, and you’ll have everything you need to rehabilitate your ailing backhoe in January.

Winterize the fuel system

Add the appropriate amount of fuel stabilizer and fill the tank with fuel. If the tank isn’t full, condensation can form inside, degrading the fuel and promoting corrosion in the tank. Run the backhoe until it reaches operating temperature to distribute the treated fuel throughout the engine. Linssen recommends adding a diesel fuel biocide to halt growth of microorganisms that cloud the fuel. New emission-reducing engines have lower tolerances, making it more important to remove traces of water from the system that might reduce the lubricating qualities in the fuel.

Check fluids

You should track engine and hydraulic oil levels and quality during daily checks throughout the season. The same goes for routine checks of the coolant/antifreeze. Pull your maintenance records and see if you’re due for a radiator flush, and if it’s close, err on the side of prevention and replace the antifreeze.

Linssen recommends replacing the engine oil just before storage. Dirty oil can cause corrosion in vital engine parts over the winter. He also promotes a few more steps. First, he recommends having engine oil samples analyzed regularly to track engine wear. For winter storage, he also recommends coating the inside of the engine with volatile corrosive inhibitor (VCI) oil.

Check rubber parts

According to the Deere & Co. backhoe storage procedures, you should check all belts and hoses for wear and replace them as necessary. This includes all clamps and connectors on the hoses. Look for weather checking and cracking as signs that items should be replaced. If you find one overly worn hose or belt, it’s a sign that others may need to be replaced as well. If you’re not sure if a belt or hose is at the end of its useful life, change it anyway. It’s better to address these stress points now than when a part breaks in the field during the busy season.

Assess tire condition

Check how old your tires are and determine if you will need new tires next season. If so, consider replacing them now if your budget allows. Ensure that tires are at full pressure when you store them.

Charge the battery

Check the age of the battery and make a note if you’ll need to replace it in spring. If so, you can remove the battery when you store the equipment, then add a fresh battery in the spring. If the battery still has life, Linssen suggests storing it in a cool, dry place. Don’t allow it to freeze. Batteries near the end of their life can freeze if left in the elements. When storing batteries, cover the terminals to prevent corrosion and accidental damage in case something should fall and contact both terminals.

Park it properly

According to Deere, you should start the machine and run until it reaches operating temperature, then continue to run it for five minutes at half speed, avoiding running it fast or at idle. Operate all functions and adjustable parts one last time to make sure they work properly and that hydraulic fluids circulate. Then park the backhoe on a hard, dry surface, in as clean an area as possible.

If you’re storing the machine in the yard, park it on a gravel area as flat as possible, Linssen says. When you lower implements, rest the buckets on wooden blocks — not on the ground — and tip the buckets forward so that water will run out. Make sure you keep ground-engaging tools, tips, hinge points and pins out of water. Cover the tires with thick canvas or black plastic to protect them from damaging UV light exposure.

Tag it

Finally, Linssen recommends tying a tag to the steering wheel or controls that notes all small maintenance that needs to be done in spring. Include crucial start-up instructions as a reminder for experienced operators and a precaution for new operators.



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