Failure rate for 318 Blade cylinder

[monster318]

I was just wondering how common it was for one of the cylinders on the 54'' Front blade for the 318 to go bad? I just replaced the angle cylinder on my grandfathers with a brand new one from someone selling them on ebay (not OEM but looks identical and works just the same):thumbsup: for $99. If it was fairly common I would pick one up to keep on hand, since a lot of people are "here today gone tomorrow" on ebay and for the price over a brand new one...I was wondering if it would be well worth it?

 

[beenthere]

You could look at it as an investment for your money. Could prolly sell it on ebay if you never need it. Then again, having a spare may just guarantee that you never will need it too.

 

[JerryK]

I have used/abused a JD 54" blade since 1991...and not a problem with either the lift or turn cyl.. It is about the same model blade that you have. It is on a 420 Onan/HST that weighs about 1K pounds with another 400+ of rear weights. Had a cracked female coupling once that I had to replace, but still have the original hoses and cylinders. So I think you should be good to go....

 

[jenkinsph]

I would keep the $100 in my pocket imo. It is difficult to know what will break and when, might be something else entirely different.

 

[jsb2b]

I had my 1990 318 for 16 years before trading it in on a 2305. I used the blade for snow and lite excavation. Never had a problem with either cylinder. The only one that started to leak was the power steering cylinder. That was expensive back in 1997 at $160 and not rebuildable. I'd save my money for that one...

 

[monster318]

The only one that started to leak was the power steering cylinder. That was expensive back in 1997 at $160 and not rebuildable. I'd save my money for that one...

Come to think of it, my steering cylinder does leak in the winter time when it gets cold...I will have to plow with my grandfathers tractor once to make sure that his new cylinder does actually hold up before considering buying a spare for mine.

Although its kinda hard to plow with no snow yet here

 

[Wayne_H]

That would be a bad investment in my opinion. My 318 I bought in 1987, and none of the cylinders on the plow, steeting or lift leak. I think they last a very very long time.

You might be better off investing in oil for oil changes since you should do that every year and the price of oil will probably not go down any time soon....

Wayne

 

[psdx]

Seems to me, once you've bought an eBay cylinder the question changes to being all about the life of the eBay cylinder as opposed to the JD cylinder. Just the same, buying a spare probably isn't needed. I have bought spare whatevers in the past and 2 or 5 years later I wonder why I bought it and give it away or throw it away. I'd say you had an event that's not likely to repeat.

 

[CHDinCT]

If you're like me, I usually can't find that spare whatever come the time I need it. Put a few years between when I buy it and need it and whatever mental note I made of a) having it and b) finding it and I usually end up buying another one (right after I get it is when I remember I already had one :laughing. However, something sizable like a hydraulic cylinder would have a better chance of staying in my memory bank, ........ I think.

 

[AverageJoe]

Welded cylinders are repairable. Keep the $99 in your pocket.