108 Year Old Hydraulic Cider Press Help

[oldnslo]

R8,
Is your cylinder designed for use as a single acting, pressure in one end only or double acting where pressure can be applied to both extend and retract the cylinder?

If double acting connect the second port of the cylinder to the unused port on the valve and then by running the pump the cylinder will move in both directions. Just a whole lot faster when retracting.

 

[r8f1k]

So, the cylinder is power up, gravity down. There is only one port in the cylinder. I opened the lines that power the cylinder, nothing happens. Not a drop of fluid comes out, so I am thinking that it took all 5 gallons of fluid and I need to add another 5-10 gallons. That might get me what I need. Could it be air bound? It was only bench tested, never really run since the rebuild.

 

[oldnslo]

R8,
I suspect that seal friction/stiction is preventing the cylinder from retracting. Can you push on the ram to see if it will retract? With the port open to atmosphere there is no air lock.

What type of seals were installed during the rebuild? Do you know if they were similar to what was removed? Old ones could have been leather cup seals since they were used 60 - 70 years ago on some front end loaders.

 

[r8f1k]

A modern gland nut seal was custom made for the cylinder. It did not have leather, it had a packing similar to plumbing oakum. If it leaked, you just turned every bit one flat more to stop it. Either it is just tight after a rebuild and needs to get oiled up a little, or ????? I will load some tractor weights on it and see if it drops.

 

[oldnslo]

If like other cylinders I have used once moving it will keep moving

I hope that you get this operating

 

[ericm979]

Gravity down? It must be really heavy to provide enough pressure for pressing. Any chance you could post some pics?

 

[aczlan]

Gravity down? It must be really heavy to provide enough pressure for pressing. Any chance you could post some pics?

I believe it sits underneath the fruit, so it pushes the fruit up.

Aaron Z

 

[r8f1k]

 

[100 td]

Besides the ram being tight, the filter also offers a restriction to tank flow, so ideally return from the valve should go directly to tank, unimpeded, filter should ideally be plumbed between tank and pump inlet.
If using a DA valve, second port of DA valve needs to go directly to tank ,unimpeded, so when you operate valve to drop press, pump flow goes through valve to other work port which now goes to tank, and return flow from cylinder goes to tank, not impeded by filter. They probably can't be teed together because pump flow may restrict return flow from cylinder. YMMV

 

[oldnslo]

R8
Do not use galvanized pipe fitting on hydraulic systems. Over time The oil and possibly oil velocity will cause the galvanized coating to flake off contaminating your system