Dump Truck Telescoping Lift Leak

[Omega Woods]

I am considering purchasing a 1988 International Harvester dump truck with a DT466 engine. It runs well and the price is fair but the telescoping dump cylinder is leaking significantly when raising the bed.

I am a reasonably skilled mechanic and I’m not afraid of trying new repairs but I’m concerned about buying a truck than needs repairs beyond the value of the truck.

The YouTube vids I’ve seen about redoing these kinds of cylinders make it look easy enough. My biggest concern is being able to source the right parts.

If I pulled the cylinder and took it to the local hydraulic shop, will they be able to supply the right parts? How would a guy go about finding the right parts for something like this?

Thanks!

 

[WranglerX]

First thing I would try to determine is brand and model of cylinder.... Look to see if the is a nomenclature plate on cylinder...

 

[BravoXray]

Don't know about that particular cylinder without a picture, but most telescoping cylinders I've seen have packing rings that can be tightened to slow down or stop leaks.

 

[Alan W.]

Brand of cylinder doesnt matter. Rebuilt a bunch of them years ago, when I worked in a hydraulic shop, and dont ever remember checking the brand.
Just pulled it apart and measured the size packing needed to replace.
Almost all of the older telescopic cylinders used v packing. Easy to replace. Hardest part is removing the cylinder from the truck.
Then the packing nuts can be a bear. But with the correct spanner wrench or a really large pipe wrench if someone had already screwed up the spanner slots using a chisel and hammer to remove it can be done.
Any good hydraulic shop should have the packing in stock.

 

[Omega Woods]

Brand of cylinder doesnt matter. Rebuilt a bunch of them years ago, when I worked in a hydraulic shop, and dont ever remember checking the brand.
Just pulled it apart and measured the size packing needed to replace.
Almost all of the older telescopic cylinders used v packing. Easy to replace. Hardest part is removing the cylinder from the truck.
Then the packing nuts can be a bear. But with the correct spanner wrench or a really large pipe wrench if someone had already screwed up the spanner slots using a chisel and hammer to remove it can be done.
Any good hydraulic shop should have the packing in stock.

Thanks. The cylinder didn't look like it was old or in bad shape. I've replaced packing in valves lots of times so I'm guessing this is similar.

 

[Omega Woods]

First thing I would try to determine is brand and model of cylinder.... Look to see if the is a nomenclature plate on cylinder...

Thanks. I don't have access to the truck at this time.