How long can cylinder rods remain exposed to the elements before they should be coated with something?

[SylvainG]

Knowing that:

• My tractor has no shelter, therefore has to stay outside;
• Some rods on my backhoe can't be fully retracted when parked;
• During winter, I'll put a tarp over it once removed from the tractor to make way for the blower;
• During summer, it will be mounted on the tractor and open to the elements;
• I will definitively not use it every day and probably not even every week;
• The only time there are salt here, is in winter, and on the road. Beside that, I'm over 450 km from the nearest salt water so salt isn't really an issue here.

How long can the rods be exposed to the elements before requiring being coated with something like Fluid Film to protect them against rust and pitting?

I'm thinking of 3D printing protective covers that will go from the cylinder end to exposed the rod end to protect them from the elements. Would that be enough?

Thanks

 

[RickB]

Any cover I can envision would serve to trap moisture and exacerbate corrosion issues. Fluid film or common grease would do better. For usage like yours (and mine when I had a 3pt backhoe) I'd apply when you know the backhoe project is done and the next is still unscheduled.

 

[Tinhack]

This is right on topic for me. I just spent all morning on the Kubota cylinder rods buffing and polishing the rust off. I can tell you that three years is WAY too long to let them go unattended. My surgery down time put a lot of equipment on the long list.

 

[mjw357]

My Kubota manual says to coat the exposed rods with grease for extended storage.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Like almost every other simply stated question on here. It depends on various factors that aren't that hard to comprehend. Environment is the biggest in this regard.

Putting grease on a cylinder could do more harm than good in my (thinking) opinion. It might make contaminents that could harm seals more likely to stick to the cylinder. Or make it harder for the seal to simply brush away the contaminent. I might grease a stored cylinder rod but I would also clean off the grease prior to retracting the cylinder.

 

[SylvainG]

My Kubota manual says to coat the exposed rods with grease for extended storage.

But how long is 'extended storage' ? A week? Month? Year?

Like almost every other simply stated question on here. It depends on various factors that aren't that hard to comprehend. Environment is the biggest in this regard.

Putting grease on a cylinder could do more harm than good in my (thinking) opinion. It might make contaminents that could harm seals more likely to stick to the cylinder. Or make it harder for the seal to simply brush away the contaminent. I might grease a stored cylinder rod but I would also clean off the grease prior to retracting the cylinder.

Thursday, I've coated the extended rods with hydraulic fluid, the same in the tractor. Yesterday was a rainy/windy day and the ground here is very sandy. I checked this morning and the exposed rods are covered with sand particles so yeah, it does stick to it. Planning on wiping the rods before the tractor next usage.

Fluid Film says it's not tacky so I'm not sure if this will be an issue but the removal of the product before use, that could be the issue. On an hold thread (2013), it goes from not removing it, to using Simple Green, Diesel and even brake cleaner So I'm at lost at what to do to get rid of it. Someone said they used grease and wrapped the rod in paper and simply unwrap the paper before use. Not sure how well the greased paper would hold in rain, maybe wax paper would be more appropriate?

 

[fried1765]

But how long is 'extended storage' ? A week? Month? Year?


Thursday, I've coated the extended rods with hydraulic fluid, the same in the tractor. Yesterday was a rainy/windy day and the ground here is very sandy. I checked this morning and the exposed rods are covered with sand particles so yeah, it does stick to it. Planning on wiping the rods before the tractor next usage.

Fluid Film says it's not tacky so I'm not sure if this will be an issue but the removal of the product before use, that could be the issue. On an hold thread (2013), it goes from not removing it, to using Simple Green, Diesel and even brake cleaner So I'm at lost at what to do to get rid of it. Someone said they used grease and wrapped the rod in paper and simply unwrap the paper before use. Not sure how well the greased paper would hold in rain, maybe wax paper would be more appropriate?

Store it inside!
No "extended storage" issues!

 

[leonz]

Everything you are concerned about is legitimate.

The issue is the quality of the chrome coating on the cylinder rod or rods. Dont count on it being a high quality chrome coating.

You can safely use grease or fluid film on the rods and tie news print to the exposed rods as an added measure.

The rod wipers in the packing glands are only as good as the chrome coating on the cylinder rod so keep that in mind when you have a lot of dust to deal with as it should be washed off it if at all possible when you are done digging.

You can always use Cosmolene and a Cosmoline stripper to protect the exposed portion of the cylinder rods. The issue is that the Cosmolene MUST to be stripped before the back hoe is used as the rod wiper would be damaged from the Cosmoline. I always used DL hand cleaner to break up the Cosmoline coating.

It would be simpler and cost less to coat the cylinder rods with brushed on fluid film and wrap them with newsprint using nylon twine to hold the newsprint tight to the cylinder rods.

If you use grease you have to be sure to clean the rods well to prevent any fine dust from getting pulled into the rod wiper.

Fluid Flm
Saran Wrap
4 or 5 wraps of newsprint you can also coat the newsprint with Fluid Film and then wrap it which lets it soak into the news print.
nylon twine tied in a spiral wrap using square knots
It is stored safely and the everything is easy to remove using a leatherman tool or the scissors on the Leatherman tool






Leon

 

[Cycledude]

I believe those rods are stainless steel so they won’t rust very easily

 

[ruffdog]

I greased my cylinder rods when I took my loader off. To clean the grease, you can wrap twine around the rod, then pull to the other end. It will then be free of grime.

 

[hube2]

Not everyone has the option to store things inside.

My long term storage is under my solar panel array. That's where my blower will sit until the next winter season and where my FEL will sit a lot unless I have a use for it. While not inside it is semi protected from the worst of things and blocks direct sun during the hottest part of the day but it's not really "inside". I could probably store the blower inside, but I'll have a lot more room in my shed if I don't but I really don't have anywhere except outside to take of the FEL when I don't need it.

I always follow these types of topics with interest to see what others do. I was thinking of putting a good coating of grease, fluid film or chain wax on things I want to protect and then checking regularly and reapplying as needed.

 

[SylvainG]

Store it inside!
No "extended storage" issues!

Whish it was that easy It was already a hard sell to my wife to buy the tractor, adding a shelter to it, not going to happen anytime soon lol

Everything you are concerned about is legitimate.

The issue is the quality of the chrome coating on the cylinder rod or rods. Dont count on it being a high quality chrome coating.

You can safely use grease or fluid film on the rods and tie news print to the exposed rods as an added measure.

The rod wipers in the packing glands are only as good as the chrome coating on the cylinder rod so keep that in mind when you have a lot of dust to deal with as it should be washed off it if at all possible when you are done digging.

You can always use Cosmolene and a Cosmoline stripper to protect the exposed portion of the cylinder rods. The issue is that the Cosmolene MUST to be stripped before the back hoe is used as the rod wiper would be damaged from the Cosmoline. I always used DL hand cleaner to break up the Cosmoline coating.

It would be simpler and cost less to coat the cylinder rods with brushed on fluid film and wrap them with newsprint using nylon twine to hold the newsprint tight to the cylinder rods.

If you use grease you have to be sure to clean the rods well to prevent any fine dust from getting pulled into the rod wiper.

Fluid Flm
Saran Wrap
4 or 5 wraps of newsprint you can also coat the newsprint with Fluid Film and then wrap it which lets it soak into the news print.
nylon twine tied in a spiral wrap using square knots
It is stored safely and the everything is easy to remove using a leatherman tool or the scissors on the Leatherman tool

Leon

Hmm, didn't think about using Saran wrap. That could be an easy solution. Wipe de rod to remove any contaminant, coat with hydraulic fluid, wrap the rod in Saran wrap. Then when ready to use again, unwrap. The fluid should still be clean and being the same stuff that's INSIDE the cylinder, shouldn't require anything else, right?

I believe those rods are stainless steel so they won’t rust very easily

Probably, but I prefer being safe than sorry

I greased my cylinder rods when I took my loader off. To clean the grease, you can wrap twine around the rod, then pull to the other end. It will then be free of grime.

That seems easy, thanks

 

[SylvainG]

Not everyone has the option to store things inside.

My long term storage is under my solar panel array. That's where my blower will sit until the next winter season and where my FEL will sit a lot unless I have a use for it. While not inside it is semi protected from the worst of things and blocks direct sun during the hottest part of the day but it's not really "inside". I could probably store the blower inside, but I'll have a lot more room in my shed if I don't but I really don't have anywhere except outside to take of the FEL when I don't need it.

I always follow these types of topics with interest to see what others do. I was thinking of putting a good coating of grease, fluid film or chain wax on things I want to protect and then checking regularly and reapplying as needed.

My blower is currently under a tarp. The same tarp what will be used to cover the backhoe once I swap them. I also put a tarp over the inside of the tractor, to cover the seat (seats when the backhoe is there), levers and dash. Thinking of adding something to cover the tires as well since the sun can be hard on them.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes, quality of rod is paramount to resistance to corrosion.

SALT, manure and other chemicals has to be the worst.

Looking at a cylinder, one has this notion that it is naked steel and has to be protected. It already is. Probably, far better than any other piece of your machine in fact.

 

[RickB]

Everything you are concerned about is legitimate.

The issue is the quality of the chrome coating on the cylinder rod or rods. Dont count on it being a high quality chrome coating.

You can safely use grease or fluid film on the rods and tie news print to the exposed rods as an added measure.

The rod wipers in the packing glands are only as good as the chrome coating on the cylinder rod so keep that in mind when you have a lot of dust to deal with as it should be washed off it if at all possible when you are done digging.

You can always use Cosmolene and a Cosmoline stripper to protect the exposed portion of the cylinder rods. The issue is that the Cosmolene MUST to be stripped before the back hoe is used as the rod wiper would be damaged from the Cosmoline. I always used DL hand cleaner to break up the Cosmoline coating.

It would be simpler and cost less to coat the cylinder rods with brushed on fluid film and wrap them with newsprint using nylon twine to hold the newsprint tight to the cylinder rods.

If you use grease you have to be sure to clean the rods well to prevent any fine dust from getting pulled into the rod wiper.

Fluid Flm
Saran Wrap
4 or 5 wraps of newsprint you can also coat the newsprint with Fluid Film and then wrap it which lets it soak into the news print.
nylon twine tied in a spiral wrap using square knots
It is stored safely and the everything is easy to remove using a leatherman tool or the scissors on the Leatherman tool






Leon

You ever leave newsprint out in the weather for a month or so? Why would any reasonably intelligent human think that would be effective?

 

[downsizingnow48]

My 2004 B21 has never been under cover and I never put grease or whatever on the cyl rods. Coastal environment. The rods are as bright and shiny as the day I bought it.

 

[ultrarunner]

Does anyone wax their rods?

Old-timer told me they put a coat of wax end of season on exposed surfaces.

 

[Citydude]

Worrying about a cylinder rod rusting out here in the West is non existent.

If they were rusting, the high priced machine sets too much. Better off renting at that point.

 

[oosik]

Been out here 40+ years now. Never seen any rusting or pitting of any cylinder rods. All my implements, with hydraulics, including my tractor, are stored in carport stalls. One thing I've noticed. Being stored under cover in the carport stalls - nothing ever gets moisture forming on the cold steel. All my cylinder rods are sucked up when implements or tractor are put away.

Our humidity here is always very low. Unless it's raining and we don't get a lot of that.

I do put a very thick coating of grease on the four cutter blades on my Wallenstein chipper. It just makes me feel better to do that.

 

[fried1765]

Whish it was that easy It was already a hard sell to my wife to buy the tractor, adding a shelter to it, not going to happen anytime soon lol



Hmm, didn't think about using Saran wrap. That could be an easy solution. Wipe de rod to remove any contaminant, coat with hydraulic fluid, wrap the rod in Saran wrap. Then when ready to use again, unwrap. The fluid should still be clean and being the same stuff that's INSIDE the cylinder, shouldn't require anything else, right?



Probably, but I prefer being safe than sorry



That seems easy, thanks

If you protect your tractor from deterioration by weather, you are simply protecting your expensive investment!
Would your wife be OK with leaving the roof of your house to leak ..... all Winter....in Quebec?