Patent ID: 6877773

Claim:
A method of automatically retracting a stabilizer leg for a work machine, the work machine operatively associated with a power source and having a control device for selecting forward or reverse directions of movement for the work machine, comprising the steps of: utilizing a control lever for moving the stabilizer leg between fully extended and fully retracted positions, the control lever being normally located in and biased to a neutral position; manually moving the control lever to either of an extend position or a retract position; manually holding the control lever in either of the extend or retract positions to respectively extend or retract the stabilizer leg to any of a plurality of positions between the fully extended and fully retracted positions; manually moving the control lever to an auto-retract position; and retaining the control lever in the auto-retract position without further manual manipulation thereof through a responsive means that overcomes the biasing action of the control lever to facilitate the automatic retraction of the stabilizer leg from any of the plurality of desired positions to the fully retracted positions, the step of retaining the control lever in the auto-retract position includes the steps of: activating a control switch by the movement of the control lever to the retract or auto-retract position, the control switch being communicable with the power source; activating a time delay mechanism in response to the activation of the control switch; and activating a solenoid detent in response to the activation of the time delay mechanism, the solenoid detent acting as the responsive means for retaining the control lever in the auto-retract position and being operative with the time delay mechanism to facilitate the automatic retraction of the stabilizer leg within a preselected time.