Woods 7500 - rust spot

[SteveInMD]

I have a Woods 7500 BH that I use maybe a few times a year. I went to hook it up the other day and noticed a rust spot, maybe 1/3 the size of a dime, on the shiny part of a stabilizer hydraulic ram. I carefully sanded the spot with 320 and then 600 grit sandpaper until it was as smooth as I could get it. I see that the shiny metal is just a thin coating, which is gone exactly where the rust spot was.

My question is what should I do now? Just use it and forget it? Replace the ram? Replace the entire hydraulic cylinder and ram? It doesn't see to leak.

[john_bud]

I have a Woods 7500 BH that I use maybe a few times a year. I went to hook it up the other day and noticed a rust spot, maybe 1/3 the size of a dime, on the shiny part of a stabilizer hydraulic ram. I carefully sanded the spot with 320 and then 600 grit sandpaper until it was as smooth as I could get it. I see that the shiny metal is just a thin coating, which is gone exactly where the rust spot was.

My question is what should I do now? Just use it and forget it? Replace the ram? Replace the entire hydraulic cylinder and ram? It doesn't see to leak.

It sounds like the rod may have taken a rock hit that knocked off the chrome plating. I would just store it with the rod retracted so it is covered with hydraulic fluid. (oil) If you want to keep it extended and exposed, then coat the rod with grease. Either from the tub by hand or from a spray (lithium grease).

[Soundguy]

Ditto what JB said.. chrome is gone there.. keep it lubed or unexposed...

soundguy

[sixdogs]

Yes what the other guys said...

I always keep my cylinders retracted or grease them for the winter and wipe off in the spring. Stuff happens and no big deal.