9 February 2017
 Categories: , Blog

Hydraulic cylinders are some of the simplest hydraulic components, making them easy to repair. In fact, you can do some of these repairs by yourself. If you notice a drop in performance of the cylinder or see any leakages, then the cylinder requires repairs. The tips below provide you with information on how to deal with common hydraulic cylinder problems.

Piston Rod Scored

Your first step in the repairs is to disassemble the cylinder to fix the damaged parts. A piston rod is one of the major parts that often get damaged due to contamination of oil or gland bearing. The piston is responsible for separating the pressure zones in the barrel and needs to be fixed for the cylinder to function properly. Piston rods may get scored. Repairs for such damage involve flushing the entire cylinder system and changing all filters.

Bent Piston Rod

The problem may be caused by outside impact or operation overload. You need to check rod parameters and increase rod specifications. Replacements of the parts may be a more cost-effective and faster alternative. As you make the repairs, you also need to ensure that the piston rod is strong enough for the load.

Piston Rod not Retracting

If the rod does not retract, it could be an indication of internal leakage or port blockage. As such, you will have to check all ports and pipes for blockage. In addition, you need to check valve operation.

Hydraulic Leaking Cylinder

Dampness on the piston rod is a sign of possible leakages, mainly caused by worn seal of the cylinder rod gland. You need to replace the gland, after establishing what caused the wear.

When you order seals from your supplier, do not make the mistake of measuring your old seal. During service, seals can either shrink or swell, and measurement of your old seal does not provide you with exact specifications of required replacements. Instead, you should measure the seal groove with a vernier caliper.

Internal Corrosion of Cylinder Barrel

One of the major causes for internal corrosion of the barrel is water in the oil. In that case, you need immediate change of oil.

Loss of Power

Without power, your hydraulic cylinder is rendered ineffective. Possible causes for the loss of power include hydraulic pump failure, internal leakage, or incorrect valve settings. Before doing repairs, you should inspect the piston head and tube. You also need to check the pump and valves.

In case you notice that some of the damages or problems with your hydraulic cylinder are too complicated, you should contact a company that provides hydraulic cylinder repair and other services to do the repairs.