Hydraulic cylinders

[Willie B]

Have you ever looked at cylinder offerings from Magister Hydraulics? I bought some 2" cross type and modified them to fit my JD loader that worked out okay. I haven't tried any larger ones from them but not ruling it out.

Next time I need a cylinder I plan to look at the Prince offerings too

I will. In the past all the generic cylinders are engineered to be built around. I used to buy them for building wood splitters.
Their specifications never quite work for a replacement application.

 

[NH575E]

I will. In the past all the generic cylinders are engineered to be built around. I used to buy them for building wood splitters.
Their specifications never quite work for a replacement application.

Sometimes the difference is advantageous. Sometimes, not so much. On my John Deere loader I got more lift capacity from larger diameter pistons and greater lift height from a longer stroke. I knew I would get that from comparing the two specifications. The loader I was rebuilding didn't have any curl cylinders on it so I just measured travel and eyelet spacing and figured the same cylinders I used for lift would work. They work okay but don't achieve full dump at full height. At 20" greater height I probably come closer to full dump at the actual height the stock cylinders would have made. All in all I am very happy with the results and got four brand new cylinders for about a forth the cost of one from John Deere. Another plus is if and when they need a rebuild I can get the same kit for all four cylinders I used.

I did have to trim the cross end an 1/8" on both sides and space the rod end with some stop collars. The ports were 90* from stock which didn't create a real problem for my application. If it had I could have overcome it with some 90* fittings.

The dipper on my 575E needs a rebuild and I may get out the tape measure and see if I can use a generic in it's place before I tear it down.

Kits seem to be a variable on New Holland. The seals in the kit listed for my stabilizers had the right inner seals but the bearing sleeve and outer seal were wrong. I had to machine my gland nut for the outer seal to fit and reused my old bearing sleeves. CNH had superseded the gland nut and piston 3 times with no way to define which kit you might need.

 

[Willie B]

More & more I want to build cylinders. As is I alter new cylinders to fit. I'm ready to try to build parts.

My new rod did arrive today. I haven't confirmed, but it looks good. I would guess it to be a NOS Case part.

 

[Willie B]

Now I could use some expert opinions!
I reassembled my stabilizer cylinder today. Mostly, all went well.
I discovered scratches in my piston. The sins of someone before me were evident. The rod I replaced was about 1/8" off straight. It was difficult to dismantle the gland thread, something I had to heat the barrel to unscrew. I can't say whether it was lock tight, or a hardening gasket compound, but it made disassembly miserable!
On reassembly I discovered some scratches I hadn't seen before. Took the rough out with some 600 grit paper. Is it OK, Or does the part search have to begin anew?

 

[Nige]

Does that piston have a fibre wear ring on it..? If the answer is yes, then you should be fine.

 

[Willie B]

There is a hard plastic ring cut on a diagonal fits in the wide, shallow groove.
The other groove gets a square cross section "rubber" ring with a rectangular cross section ring cut to splay sideways to expand to fit over the groove. The wide open on the gland end of the piston is left open to leave clearance for the port on gland end. I think the tractor end the port is in center of the piston.

Thank you. Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Welder Dave]

What does the barrel look like? It may need honing if the piston rubbed on it. The new seals will keep the piston off the barrel.

 

[Nige]

There is a hard plastic ring cut on a diagonal fits in the wide, shallow groove

That’s the wear ring. In most cylinders it’s a kind of fiber material but the function is the same. That ring (so long as it’s in good shape) keeps the lands of the pistons from touching the barrel wall.

 

[Willie B]

I kind of doubt there was enough bend in this rod to cause that. Backhoe stabilizer cylinders are subject to abuse. Case hoes swing at high speed toward the stabilizer rods. This one has been apart before. Was there an earlier rod with even more damage?
I got in there with my flashlight & magnifier glasses, can't see damage in the barrel. I couldn't feel it with fingers, & rooted through Mrs. B's drawer & found an old pair of panty hose. If they can't find burrs, nothing can! I believe the barrel to be perfect.
I got it together, used some plumbers thread seal on the gland, I found a few tiny "wires" from thread damage disassembling it. I'm amazed how much power it takes to get a gland out of this cylinder. Two BIG men hanging on an 8 foot cheater to make it move. This was the process through 12? revolutions loosening it.

 

[Welder Dave]

The gland nuts on my Cat turned about an 1/8" and then could be turned off easy but the barrel was threaded on the outside. I like the cylinders with bolted gland ends but they're mostly reserved for bigger machines.

 

[Willie B]

Yeah, on Case, the gland thread is male, the barrel is female. I don't believe it'd be difficult if some fool didn't use loctite, or hard sealer.
Clean threads, with the non hardening thread seal it wasn't difficult to put it together. I used a cheater to tighten it last 1/6 turn.

 

[tractormech]

I'm not aware of a machine shop for hundreds of miles. Eastern VT was, for 100 years the machine tool capitol of the US. Best I can say ALL have closed, lots of vacant industrial buildings. A few small shops in, or grown from someone's basement, but even the quill from a large drill press, I had to send out of state to get repaired. That shop has now closed. The one machinist I knew there has taken a very few machines & moved to a small space.

Hydraulics shops are few, and their backlog of work is enormous! I've talked to a few, best answer looks like a month out.
I did some searching, found the part on Amazon. The Amazon vendor is the same I tried repeatedly Friday to reach. I ended up ordering from Amazon. No telling if they actually have it to sell.

We have the same issue down here. There's one general machine shop left and the owner is in his 70's and works alone. I think a guy could take a lathe,a milling machine and a welder and stay covered up with work. Nothing fancy-just bosses that they press bushings into (weldments) and things like that. There isn't any small piecework shops. They are all CNC and want to set up and make 40 bosses at a time-not two like the guy needs.We are going to suffer when these small shops are gone.

 

[mikebramel]

What is the protrusion of the wear band out of the piston?

just by looking at, nothing to worry about

if youRe worried about it, can utilize the unused portion of the piston and turn a wider wear band groove

 

[Willie B]

What is the protrusion of the wear band out of the piston?

just by looking at, nothing to worry about

if youRe worried about it, can utilize the unused portion of the piston and turn a wider wear band groove

I'd say a few thousandths. It is now assembled, I can't measure, but not much protrusion. I don't know the source of the scratches, I hope it was in the last few threads on its way out of the barrel. It stays up, no sag, & no leaking.