Replacing hydraulic cylinder seals

Brandon_Green · April 28, 2016, 6:09pm

Anyone have experience rebuilding hydraulic cylinders? I ordered a seal kit for the passenger cylinder on our 2 post lift, so will need to replace the seals after the parts arrive. It has a very slow seep, just enough to notice it build up at base over a few months, looking in the reservoir it has lost less than ~1/4" of fluid since we originally filled it.

All I know about rebuilding is from watching this video, looks doable assuming we can get the cylinder out. In theory just need to hold the carriage up on the stops and lower the cylinder to be able to lean it out.

TLAR · April 28, 2016, 6:25pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y40ZxPqLvg8

Raymond · April 28, 2016, 7:53pm

Hopefully it’s just seals and no honing of the cylinder walls is needed. Check the surfaces carefully. Any bad spots will let the fluid go by.

jast · April 28, 2016, 8:46pm

I’d like to “double-like” this video.

dallasmagna · April 30, 2016, 1:32pm

I will be there. If you are going to do this on a weekday, let me know and I can start taking it apart early.

TLAR · April 30, 2016, 2:42pm

I’d suggest waiting until the parts arrive.
No point in taking the lift out of commission until the parts are on site

Brandon_Green · May 5, 2016, 10:33pm

Parts arrived but I won’t be available this weekend, I put an event on the calendar for May 14th starting at Noon. Obviously the lift will be unavailable for use until it is put back together.

TLAR · May 5, 2016, 11:01pm

I cannot make it the 14th - my Aggie nephew’s graduation is that Sat.

The seals shouldn’t too tough - getting the cylinder out/in is 75% of the work

Brandon_Green · May 14, 2016, 2:35am

Bump, this is tomorrow, the lift will be unavailable until we get it back together.

Brandon_Green · May 15, 2016, 1:25am

Success, lift is back together.

The old seal clearly had a crack in it

The only hard part was getting the retention clip out, took about an hour. A very small punch and modified screw driver allowed us to pry it up enough for the end to come out.