Retro Old One-Way Cylinders into Two Way Hyd's?

[Olalla Tractor]

Hello Friends!

A buddy gave me two newly rebuilt FEL hydraulic cylinders that were a "one way" cylinder. They were made to lift the FEL up and then gravity would return them. They have hoses on one end but nothing to return them from the other end if one wanted to use them for something other than that style of loader, say a log splitter or grapple.

Question: Can I tap threaded connectors into the "return" end of the cylinders to make them into two way hydraulics? Or will the seals inside the cylinders need to be changed to work properly?

Thanks!
Jim

 

[sweettractors]

I would think the ram seals would need to be checked first. Ken Sweet

 

[LD1]

Dissasemble the cylinder and see what kind it is. NO big deal cause you will want to do this anyway if you are going to drill and tap for a fitting.

Some SA cylinders are just like DA cylinders but are only used like SA cylinders. Others dont really even have a piston or piston seals, rather just a rod, and a ring on the bottom to keep the cylinder centered in the bore. They work on displacement. You pump fluid in the cylinder, the fluid fills the entire cylinder, including the rod side, all the way out to the cap/packing. It extends the cylinder cause pumping fluid in displaces the rod. If this is the type (no piston or piston seals), I am affraid you wont have any luck making it a DA cylinder. And it sounds like that is the type you have since you didnt mention a breather hole in the area you are wanting to add the fitting, Cause if it actually had a piston and seals, it would have to let the air in and out of the rod side somehow.

 

[Olalla Tractor]

Ah, I see...that makes sense...thank you!

If it is a SA cylinder, is there any way to add the necessary seals onto the end of the ram, or is it a lost cause?

 

[LD1]

I'd say lost cause. Better to just buy new cylinders. What did you plan on using them for?? I know you referenced log splitter earlier, but most loader cylinders are WAY too small to have any power. And most 1.5"-2" diameter loader cylinders can usually be picked up ~$100 or less

 

[Tx Jim]

Ah, I see...that makes sense...thank you!

If it is a SA cylinder, is there any way to add the necessary seals onto the end of the ram, or is it a lost cause?

If the single acting cylinder has no breather then I'll bet it has no piston. The cyl rod will act as the piston. If there was a piston there would be a need for breather or the air on the opposite side of the piston from the oil would be trapped