minnie mo backhoe leaf chain install

heres an update on my minnie mo big mo 500 loader backhoe repairs. had all the hydraulic cylinders rebuilt on the tractor a couple weeks ago and was installing a drain culvert in the field when one of the leaf chains on the hoe snapped. they were old chains and on the hoe when i got it. in 40 inches of chain there was better than an inch of stretch. the hoe did coast a ways when swinging, and was kind of annoying. the hoe has a carriage that is run by 2 hydraulic cylinders and has two idler pulleys that ride side to side, swinging the hoe. the chains are anchored on one end to the hoe and the other end to the unit frame. installed the first chain, then swung (swang?) the hoe hard over to one side, and ran the carriage to that end of travel. took the slack out of the first chain, then installed the second chain and swung (swang?swingged?) the hoe the other way and did the same. ran it back and forth a few times and then snugged up the chains so they were even. wha-laa.....all done!!! works good now and the hoe doesnt coast side to side at all now. the leaf chain is also used on fork lift masts and comes in various sizes. this is a 6-4 chain, about a #60 iirc. for 10 feet of chain was about 180 dollars from motion industries (berry bearing) the hoe was made by ottawa mfg in ottawa kansas. hope this will help anybody if they run in to this. heres some pics.

I've never seen a chain used like that before, interesting concept.

As for rebuilding cylinders, I find that's a very common thing on certain cylinders. I'm looking for reasons why some cylinders last forever and others are problems. I found the bearings on my outriggers were worn out putting cylinders in a bind, causing them to leak. I'm thinking when I carry brush on front forks, if a large items rolls back and comes in contact with cylinder, it damages O-ring.

How often do you rebuild cylinders? I do it so often I leave cylinder on tractor and just remove the end, rod and piston.

i had a machinist neighbor do these, they were weird. a steel sleeve with a lock ring goes in, then a big gland seal, then the cap. the sleeve was a devil to get out, no way to release the lock ring. and a couple cylinders some one in the past welded the ends on. had to machine the ends off to rebuild them.