In case you own multiple equipment and you can repair most of them on your own, you would end up saving significant amount of money over time. But not all equipment are simple enough to be serviced at home. Therefore, if you’re handling an equipment as complex as hydraulic cylinder, it’s recommended you have a basic understanding of how the equipment works, and also have the right tools handy. The following are some tips and suggestions that would help you save time and effort and also make you more efficient at hydraulic cylinder repair.
Thorough Inspection During Cylinder Disassembling
If you are disassembling the hydraulic cylinder to replace the seals, use the opportunity to carry out a complete inspection of all the other cylinder components. For instance, you may look for cracks in the rod at all the cross parts and check if there are any scoring or pitting. In case the finish isn’t uniform throughout, it may denote the rod has been compromised and should be replaced.
Dealing with Rods
Generally, bent rods could be press-straightened. It is at times feasible to straighten the rod sans causing any damage to the chrome plating. But in case the chrome is in a bad state, the rod would have to be either replaced or re-chromed. If the rod’s chrome surface is scored or pitted, the rod seals’ service life and effectiveness would be reduced. Minor chrome surface scratches could be polished away using a fine emery paper strip. For rods with a small diameter, machining a fresh rod from a round bar that’s plated with hard-chrome would be most economical.
Frequent Seal Replacement is a Bad Sign
If the seals require frequent replacement, it could indicate bigger issues lying underneath. The costs of the repair would only increase if you do not fix the issue at the earliest.
Do Not Measure Old Seals When Considering a Replacement
When you’re looking to replace the old seals with new ones, do not assume the new seals’ size taking into account the existing seals’ dimensions. Old seals could swell or shrink during operation. Or maybe the mechanic who installed the existing seals used the wrong seals. For best results, it’s best to measure the grooves of a seal.
Barrel Inspection
Check the barrel for scoring or pitting. In case the barrel is scored or pitted internally, the piston seal’s service life and effectiveness would take a slump. Therefore, the cylinder barrel should be replaced or honed for damage removal. On barrels with small diameter, scoring or pitting lower than 0.005 inch can be cleared with a honing tool.
