Barge box/dump box hydraulic cylinder stroke issue

r8f1k · Jan 12, 2022

I have an old hydraulic wagon hoist that won't/doesn't open all the way. The current hydraulic cylinder has about 6.125" of rod sticking out of the cylinder at all times and when the hoist is raised, it never opens to a full 180 degrees. It gets to around 120.......I have a Midwest hoist on another wagon, mounted in the same spot, run with the same pump, and it opens to about 170-175 degrees. The rod goes farther into the cylinder and doesn't seem to have the same issue.

My question is as follows: Does my hoist have the wrong cylinder on it? The distance from the large 1.125" main pivot pin to the center pivot is 34". The body of the cylinder is 5" in diameter and 21" long. Again, there is about 6" of rod sticking out at all times and, I think, indicating that the cylinder is too short for the hoist. Is there a way to tell how long the cylinder should be? I don't want to guess and buy a unit and it doesn't work or the rod bottoms out on the pivot when fully opened, potentially bending the rod. There is no name on the cylinder or hoist frame, it is just a yellow cylinder and red hoist. Any help is appreciated.

CADplans · Jan 12, 2022

If you disconnect the pin, and retract the cylinder, does it move much?

If it travels in 6 inches, that is a pretty good indication that someone installed the wrong cylinder,
An inch of further travel, the cylinder is probably correct.

If you disconnect the cylinder, then raise the body with some other lifting system,,
(like an overhead chain hoist) will the body go up further?

That would give you an indication of the open pin center distance that you would like.
Then, see if you can find a cylinder that has the stroke, and CPCD that suits the lift.

r8f1k · Jan 12, 2022

The cylinder goes in about 4 more inches. When you disconnect the cylinder it does open up more.
Any thoughts on a good place to find hoist cylinders? They seem tough to find....maybe I don't know what to call them.
What is CPCD?

LD1 · Jan 13, 2022

Pictures would do wonders.

What is the distance between the pin holes with the dump box closed?

Can you open the dump box to the desired dump position and remeasure the distance between pins.

This will give you are target retracted and extended length and give you and idea of the stroke you need.

Without a pic, its hard to understand what is so special about this cylinder that you are having a hard time finding one. Lots of online sources for cylinders.