I'm Stuck, Henry Help?

[duncwarw]

I bought a '57 JD420 with Henry FEL & Backhoe. They were installed by the dealer when new.

The backhoe would swing several feet past where I put it and then the cable snapped. Does anybody know how the cables are routed? Despite taking pictures, I'm stumped on how the thing is supposed to go.

TIA

 

[bison]

without knowing anything about this backhoe,but based on your pic,i would say there need to be a cable for each side.
if there is just the one than it looks like it is used to activate a brake or hydr valve to stop the swing at end of stroke.odd looking setup though. there seems to be missing something cause no cable will stand a sharp corner like that to long

 

[duncwarw]

Yes, two cables. I probably didn't describe it well so I'll try again.

The cables "start" as loops through the vertical eye bolts and somehow get through the wheel. Right behind the wheel is a horizontal hydraulic cylinder. Working the lever, the cylinder swings the boom around left to right. I believe the cables halt the motion when you let go of the lever.

As I said, when I got the machine, moving the backhoe left or right, the boom would pass where I wanted it to go by several feet. Annoying and possibly dangerous (especially on such a light machine).

When the cable broke, I had no control at all other than to keep moving the hoe back to center with the hydraulics.

Thanks for the tip about the bends. I'll see if Tractor supply has anything that will work to connect the cable ends to the eyes.

I'll post another pic and see if that helps.

 

[bison]

Looking at your pic again and thinking how this is suppose to work, i am inclined to believe that the v notch in the pulley[lack of better definition]is the solid point.I bet there is a hook up point there,or it broken out[clean the junk off] from wich the cables go around their respective pulley halves horizontally to the rear of the machine and attach there to an eye of some kind,with enough slack to facilitate swing travel as far as is safely allowed as not to overreach.The eye bolts and hookup as is shown are incorrect in my opinion.It looks like an ill attempt to fix it.
you will have to find the play in the swing cylinder or the control valve. maybe the seals in the cylinder are leaking badly,making swing control impossible.

Let me know what you think.

 

[duncwarw]

Thanks Bison.

I THINK I might have it.
I have to find a wrench to adjust the cables and tighted up the clamps today.

I'll try to diagram the routing in case this ever comes up again so the next guy doesn't have to guess.

The eye bolts seem to be legitimate and are the adjustment points so as the cables stretch, you can remove the slack. It was a very unpleasant job.

The cables sort of cross eachother at the notch in the front of the pulley.
They come down from the eye bolts, through the triangular holes in the top of the wheel and on to eachother's opposite side.
From there, about a third of the way around the back of the pulley, around the ends of the cylinder, and ending around the peg on the opposite end of the cylinder (facing the front of the machine).

I tried it once but one of the cables clamps slipped. I'll report back this afternoon and will try to draw a sensible diagram.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Anonymous-0]

i think youre on the rite track with the crossed cables...whoever designed that thing needs a boot where tha sun dont shine...good luck

 

[duncwarw]

Thanks!

I made a diagram and will add this picture. This is the cylinder that controls the swing. It's right behind that pulley. You can see how the cables attach and wrap the ends:

The diagram. I hope this makes sense:

NOTE: I just remembered. In case you're wondering, the pulley is tall enough for two 1/2" cables so they never [u:9293f23086]actually[/u:9293f23086] overlap.

 

[bison]

Now it makes sense Henry.Pic did not show all,Causing me to think the swing cyl was pinned to the swing post or had a rack and pinnion.
still the sharp upward bend in the cable is a big stresspoint.
What where they thinking building it like that!
If with new tight adjusted cables you still cant control the swing motion,have a look at the cylinder piston seals.

good luck Bison

 

[duncwarw]

Yeah, it's quite a system.

I was digging hard with it today and suddenly it let loose again. Grrrrrr.
If there develops too much slack, the cables come off the pulley and there's no control at all. I'm off to buy new cables again and try to put the loops on the cylinder end together on a bench so I can tighten the crap out of the clamps. It takes two "U" clamps on each end.

I'll have to remove a hydraulic line on either end of the cylinder to get them on but it's worth it. Besides, just about every day a hose goes and today was no exception. A dirty, nasty job.