tight/stuck swivel ball end on hydraulic cylinder

[dicktill]

Hi all,

I have a 3-point "side link" hydraulic cylinder with a swivel ball at one end. The cylinder itself is fine, but the ball is very tight, almost glued in place. The first fix I tried was to use paint stripper to get rid of all paint on the ball (there was a lot). I've then tried huge doses of PBlaster and Freeze-Off, and I've mounted the ball end to a vice and moved the cylinder "round and round", every-which-way, and it is still way too tight. Anyone have any better ideas to loosen it up, such as heat (where to apply?) or a damned-big-hammer (where-to-apply?) or valve-grinding-compound or ?????

TIA, Dick

 

[SPYDERLK]

Shame to fool with a nice snug mobile joint. If you could just find an application that would make it really work, to its full force capacity, back and forth reversals a few times it would probably settle in and get supple. Im just guessing that eye has never seen anywhere near its design stress.

Additionally, you could try a non particulate surface active metal lube like Militec1.

 

[CalG]

Hi all,

I have a 3-point "side link" hydraulic cylinder with a swivel ball at one end. The cylinder itself is fine, but the ball is very tight, almost glued in place. The first fix I tried was to use paint stripper to get rid of all paint on the ball (there was a lot). I've then tried huge doses of PBlaster and Freeze-Off, and I've mounted the ball end to a vice and moved the cylinder "round and round", every-which-way, and it is still way too tight. Anyone have any better ideas to loosen it up, such as heat (where to apply?) or a damned-big-hammer (where-to-apply?) or valve-grinding-compound or ?????

TIA, Dick

Put it into service and use it.

If you can move it on the bench, it's not tight.

 

[dicktill]

The cylinder is well used, perhaps as much as 150-200 hours of use with a 3-point back blade. The issue with it sticking is that the cylinder body does not rotate and that causes the hoses to rub.