Polymath
Active Member
Good morning guys,
I finally broke down and decided to repack my own hydraulic cylinders rather than keep paying a shop to do it. I knew it wouldn't be easy but it has been quite an experience. I had two cylinders leaking so I tackled what I thought was going to be the toughest first which was one of the swing cylinders.
The swing cylinder gland was in bad shape from the last person who monkeyed with it. The holes for the spanner wrench were destroyed. I managed to get it off though by starting it with a pipe wrench. Got it out, got the new seals and everything installed and the rod etc. all back together. Even drilled some new holes in the gland for the spanner wrench.
Next up the boom cylinder. Thought this was going to be easy. Well, the gland was rather difficult and even though I could get the spanner wrench on it, wouldn't break it loose so I used to the pipe wrench to start it. Had to drill out the set screw too as it was in bad shape.
Once I got the gland unscrewed I noticed it was discolored. Seems like a previous owner heated it up or possibly welded on it. The bolt on the rod wasn't very tight either. Got it apart, into the garage, began replacing seals etc and the last was the gland wiper. I could not get it to go in for anything even putting the wiper in the freezer for a while. I ended up ruining the wiper. Good thing they sent me an extra kit by accident. I took a Dremel around the lip of the gland where the wiper seats a few times but still wouldn't go. I left the wiper in the freezer overnight and tried it real quick this morning but still doesn't want to go in except on one side.
What kind of tricks or tips do you guys have that I might be able to use to get this thing in and back together this afternoon after my 8-5 is over? Looking forward to hearing them. Thanks.
I finally broke down and decided to repack my own hydraulic cylinders rather than keep paying a shop to do it. I knew it wouldn't be easy but it has been quite an experience. I had two cylinders leaking so I tackled what I thought was going to be the toughest first which was one of the swing cylinders.
The swing cylinder gland was in bad shape from the last person who monkeyed with it. The holes for the spanner wrench were destroyed. I managed to get it off though by starting it with a pipe wrench. Got it out, got the new seals and everything installed and the rod etc. all back together. Even drilled some new holes in the gland for the spanner wrench.
Next up the boom cylinder. Thought this was going to be easy. Well, the gland was rather difficult and even though I could get the spanner wrench on it, wouldn't break it loose so I used to the pipe wrench to start it. Had to drill out the set screw too as it was in bad shape.
Once I got the gland unscrewed I noticed it was discolored. Seems like a previous owner heated it up or possibly welded on it. The bolt on the rod wasn't very tight either. Got it apart, into the garage, began replacing seals etc and the last was the gland wiper. I could not get it to go in for anything even putting the wiper in the freezer for a while. I ended up ruining the wiper. Good thing they sent me an extra kit by accident. I took a Dremel around the lip of the gland where the wiper seats a few times but still wouldn't go. I left the wiper in the freezer overnight and tried it real quick this morning but still doesn't want to go in except on one side.
What kind of tricks or tips do you guys have that I might be able to use to get this thing in and back together this afternoon after my 8-5 is over? Looking forward to hearing them. Thanks.