JCB crowd cylinder rebuild (?)

[Richard]

Update: my cylinder has been at a shop......for about three weeks. I finally told them to send it back (and I'd try my self, hence this thread)

I finally got it back yesterday. Took two of us to lift it out of car & carry to garage. While doing so, it made a "clank".

Seems they have already unscrewed the cap AND evidently, removed some of the gaskets that are on the cap (no idea what they did or didn't do inside)

How they got this far without finishing it is beyond me.... but the good part is, I don't have to wrestle the cap off!! (I only have to wrestle it on)

Set it down on a work bench and it's putting a strain on the bench. Told the wife to steer clear as she'd never feel it if it fell on her toes, they'd simply be missing.

Decided I'll probably (but not sure until I call) contact the dealer, give them the serial number of the machine and get some genuine parts. Need to try to do that today in between my other stuff.

 

[Richard]

Called the JCB dealer.... gave him the serial number. He was busy, I was busy so he said he'd email me a schematic for it for my approval.

I need the dipperstick cylinder. He sent me a diagram of the front wheel steering cylinder...

To be continued.

 

[TractorGuy]

Ib the meantime go ahead and order a tool for the gland nut. If it's the type with holes in the face you can buy one that adjusts to different sizes and has a 3/4 square drive.

If they returned it with the nut loose and clanking you better pull it apart and make sure the piston and bolt are inside.

 

[Richard]

The gland nut uses a "traditional" open end wrench..... of course, it has to be about 4" in diameter!! Looks like my large pipe wrench will fit on it and my only issue might seem to be getting a cheater bar to get some leverage.

Meanwhile, my intent is to take apart, clean, reassemble.... put nut back on. Take to machine. Mount it such that it's pinned to the machine itself so I can use the machine to hold it since I don't have a gorilla grip nor a vice. I'll need SOMETHING to hold it while I crank on it to tighten it.

I guess this might be fun to take some pictures of the process. Perhaps post them for posterity.

 

[TractorGuy]

You might want to ask the advice of those that have built the JCB cylinders over at the Heavy Equipment Forum. I'm sure they have some helpful advice to offer.

My New Holland cylinders have a yellow piston ring that is hard as a rock. I have to soak in boiling water to get them on the piston then I clamp them down with a large hose clamp and cool them to get them contracted enough to get the piston back in without damaging the seal.

 

[BukitCase]

Also, be sure and find out what the torque spec is on that cylinder - my 580B's dipper/crowd cylinder piston bolt wants 1000-1200 ft lbs of torque, other cylinders on the hoe run in the 450-600# range. You do NOT wanna find out how fun it is to get a piston out of a cylinder that's come loose from its rod... Steve