Re-building a Cylinder

[futuresweets10]

Rebuilding a Cylinder

Am I crazy for thinking I can attempt to rebuild a cylinder on my own never having done one before? How tough of a job is this? Anyone know of any HOW-TO's on the net? Just looking for basic answers at this point so I know if its worth me researching and learning.

 

[Willl]

Aint that bad, getting the right replacement parts could be the toughest portion.

Here,,,check out pages 55-61 of my Bradco BH manual,,,

http://www.forddistributing.com/documents/3265_Backhoe_Manual_OM606.pdf

 

[futuresweets10]

Aint that bad, getting the right replacement parts could be the toughest portion.

Here,,,check out pages 55-61 of my Bradco BH manual,,,

http://www.forddistributing.com/documents/3265_Backhoe_Manual_OM606.pdf

Being a CAT I dont think I will have any trouble finding the parts

 

[kennyd]

There are PLENTY of threads right here to read if you search

 

[RoyJackson]

Cylinders are pretty simple.
However, being pretty simple myself, I find it easier to lay all the parts (including the o-rings and seals) out in order, just like you see in the illustrated parts breakdown on a nice clean workspace.

Part of my Navy work was rebuilding aircraft hydraulic components and I learned to be very careful and methodical, even though they were extensively tested prior to use.
Since I do very little of this kind of work anymore, I'm still very careful and methodical...just so I don't screw something up. Some guys can tear down and rebuild a cylinder right on the machine (just disconnecting the rod end). I don't do enough of this kind of work to feel confident in doing that...plus, I don't want to lose any pieces.
It's not a race...take your time and do it right...the first time.

 

[crazyal]

I've rebuilt a couple. Never a cat though. Each brand is a little different, my Case cylinders there's a cap that holds the rod seal that unscrews. That's the hardest part. I don't have the correct wrench and at times I've used a large pipe wrench when they are on real tight. If it was a newer machine I might be more leery about leaving teeth marks.

Doing it on the machine has the advantage of being able to keep the cylinder from turning while trying to remove the cap. Also if it's a large cylinder you might be able to support the weight by placing some 2x4s or something between the arm and the cylinder. The downside is that the cylinder usually still has oil in it and on a bench it's much easier to drain into a pan.

The only other issue I've ever had was sometimes getting the new rod seal into it's gland can be a challenge.

 

[markct]

its usualy not very technicaly difficult to rebuild a cylinder but sometimes it can take some serious torque to either loosen the gland nut or the nut that holds the piston to the end of the rod. dont know how big of a machine you have but often a 5 inch bore cylinder will have a nut that takes like a 2 1/2 inch socket and alot of torque, we have had many a 1 inch air impact wouldnt touch, nor two men on 10ft of pipe on a 1 inch drive breaker bar. often the loosening method is pushing the wrench with a backhoe, forklift, hoist etc. the next advice is make sure everything is clean and especialy burr free, the rod, bore and any grooves in the end of the tube that the seals have to slide past on the way in. and lastly, save yourself the agrivation i suffered for years at work and at home of fighting with gland seals and get one of these instalation tools McMaster-Carr there not that expensive, but there are 3 different sizes, altho i have found the smaller 2 sizes work on most everything even the bigger seals up to 3 inch rod diameter. they make the job so much easier and if they save you damaging one seal they have almost paid for themselves! money well spent that i should have spent years ago!