Need help repairing Bush Hog cylinder!

[familyman]

Ok, in my last thread I described breaking the bucket rod on my Bush Hog BH650 backhoe. I just got the new rod, lower pin, and seal kit ($300!) and am ready to rebuild the cylinder. The cap came off fairliy easily with a pipe wrench, but there's a burly split ring behind that holding everything in the tube. How do I remove this?

 

[MrJimi]

Picture time please

 

[familyman]

I will later tonight, I have to shoot off to a school function. In the meantime, the round-bodied split ring is expanded in a groove near the end of the cylinder body - it was hidden by the end cap. Hopefully a photo will clarify later.

 

[schmism]

they usually have a pointy end, that you can use a couple of small flat head screwdrivers..... prying one end out of the grove taking advange of the inverse point on the end.....

then working the 2 screwdrivers around the internal snap ring untill its free of the grove.

something like this if im thinking of what you have right

 

[RoyJackson]

schmism's got the right idea. Just becareful when the snap ring flies! Also, use care to not burr up the slots. The snap ring is spring steel and is robust. The cap and cylinder housings will be a much softer material (steel or aluminum).

 

[familyman]

Nope, that ring looks flat, and looks somewhat accessible. Mine is round in profile and is well buried in its groove. I get the idea though. As I said, I'll post a pic later tonight. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Dirthog]

sounds like the retaining ring used on a lot of our cyl you have to push the packing gland in a little farther then pry the ring out then the gland will come out then just do the same in reverse to assemble.

 

[familyman]

Sorry for not posting photos back when I had this problem, but here's an update. Sorry I didn't photo the rebuild; I was a little stressed and pressed for time that weekend.
After tapping the packing gland (the threaded end that the rod passes through) in as Dirthog suggested, I was able to get the retaining ring out, and pull out the entire rod/piston assembly. I cleaned the cylinder, assembled the new rod with the new piston and seals, lubed it up and reassembled the cylinder. It works great with no leaks, and I finally got rid of the stump.
In the first photo you can see the hole that was punched into the dipperstick when the rod snapped (this is after the repair).

Next, rotating the stump to get a chain on it (this is before the rod broke - I think you can actually see it bowing here).

Last, hauling out to the woods. Good riddance.

 

[dfkrug]

Wow, that's quite a hole in your dipper. Most of these CUT
backhoe attachments use only 3/16" steel for the dipper sticks.

 

[MrJimi]

they usually have a pointy end, that you can use a couple of small flat head screwdrivers..... prying one end out of the grove taking advange of the inverse point on the end.....

then working the 2 screwdrivers around the internal snap ring untill its free of the grove.

something like this if im thinking of what you have right

I'm surprised no one caught this picture? LOL I have cleaned out many of those and it is a great example
Jim