The last part of this project is the hydraulics. The pump I have to use, only has a 1.5qt tank. It was already set up on top for a line that returns the other end of the cylinder, I assume to catch a spill if the seals leaked and a vent.
It does not have the capicity to fully extend the cylinder I am using.
My idea is to swap out the original fitting with one I modified that runs to the bottom of the tank as a pickup tube.
The idea is to fill the tank and lift the cylinder and add fluid as it goes up. Then as you let it down the lower pickup tube acts as a plunger to extract the extra fluid and draw it into the opposite end of the ram, for storage. Might take a few cycles to bleed everything of air. At that point the tank only needs to hold the extra 42ci that the 1.5" ram takes up.
Then as it extends, there will be plenty of fluid to operate and it works like a two way syringe.
The only problem I see is if the system "levels" itself and the pump/tank over flow, if they are lower than the cylinder.
Any thoughts on the idea?
Edit, the pump is power up and gravity down only.