3Cmk3 Stuck jack leg

[Tillywolves]

My 3c has got a stuck rear jacking leg.... Operating the lever puts load on the engine, and if I leave it operated it wants to stall the engine. The jack does not move if I operate the lever in either direction. If I operate the lever to lower it, and I give the foot a bit of persuasion with my boot, it will come down an inch or so, and will come back up on retract an inch or so normally, but not fully up.

The jacking leg is free to move about, and there is no dirt or stones stopping its travel. So, Im assuming there is an issue with the ram itself. What's likely to be the first thing I need to look at ?

[hubert]

Hi TIllywolves. Sounds like a bent ramrod.

[Tillywolves]

Thanks, that would make sense.

I've been pulling out some big tree stumps with the back actor, and the jacks down. A few times the whole machine was pulled forward whilst sitting on the jacks.

I think its a trip to the scrap yard then... unless anyone has a ram for sale ?

[Tillywolves]

Anyone know the BSP thread size for the jack hoses ? Im going to remove the ram, but I need to link through the hoses with a double male connector.

[agrimax]

1/4'' BSP.

[Tillywolves]

Cheers... two ordered off Ebay. Just need the ram now..

[Tillywolves]

Can a ram be straightened, or is it not worth it ?

[Jeremy Rowland]

Can a ram be straightened, or is it not worth it ?

Yes it can but no its not worth it; if you remove the bent piston rod from the ram cylinder you can get an engineering company to make a new piston rod from chrome bar which is a better idea than having the old one straightened.

Jeremy

[agrimax]

It can be straightened ok. I have bent a front bucket crowd ram 3 times on the 3cx and each time have driven below a strong branch of a tree,attached a chain and pushed down. Finished straightening with a bottle jack against the loader. Obviously,the rod is weaker now,hence it bending easier but I don't think you'll have that problem with the heavier jack ram. Really can't imagine yours being bent though. Would think the outer leg would be bent too. I have pulled both 3cs and 3cx all around the place and never bent a leg ram.Even burst the inner leg out of the outer guide on the 3c and the ram was fine. Might well be wrong but I think you have a seal problem rather than a bend.

[topkit]

There are a few threads on here for removing the ram from the rear leg have fun! I did my 3CX one last year, if you can get the pin out that holds the foot on, that is probably the hardest thing to get done. Then disconect the hoses on the top of he ram, i tied some rope around the top of the ram then as you knock the top pin out follow it through with either a large screwdriver or a piece of round bar, i then climed up onto the mudguard and took the weight of the ram with the rope while i got someone to pull the large screwdriver out then i just hauled the ram up and out of the leg, once out i diconnected the bucket link on the backhoe and slipped the ram in and put the pin back through it this gave be a decent point for leverage to get the ram cap off and reseal the ram, the seal kits are about £25.00 from diggerparts. You will probaly fine part of the ram chrome badly corroded as all of the dirt collects around it it does not matter to much so don't panic when you see it. If you can please take pictures for everyone to see as its always a good reference for others