Top 4 Things To Know When Repairing Your Own Hydraulic Cylinders
Learning how to take care of your own equipment is a great way to keep down your business expenses. Here are things you need to make sure that you do when you repair seals on your hydraulic cylinders.
#1 Measure The Seal Groves
When you have a seal that needs to be replaced, do not base the new seal that you purchase on a measurement of the old seal that you took off of your hydraulic cylinder. Overtime, while in use on your hydraulic cylinder, a seal can easily expand or shrink. That is why you should not measure the old seal; it may not provide you with an accurate measurement.
Instead, you should measure the seal grooves. The seal grooves are the area on your hydraulic cylinder where the seals rest; the seal grooves' size should not change overtime, which is why you should measure the seal groves for the most accurate measurement.
#2 Be Aware Of Tension Spring Locations
When you remove the old seal from your hydraulic cylinder and put the new one in place, make sure that you are aware of the location of all the tension springs on your hydraulic cylinder. Your hydraulic cylinder should contain multiple tension springs that help it function. These springs can be really dangerous if you set one off, so be sure you know where they are at, and use appropriate caution around them.
#3 Be Very Careful With Metal Tools
You need to be very careful with any metal tools you use while working on your hydraulic cylinder. Try to avoid using metal tools on any new seals you are putting in place. Metal tools can easily put little nicks or scratches on your seal that will prevent the new seals from working effectively. Also, be careful when you have any metal tools near the shaft of your hydraulic cylinder – it can also easily nick or scratch the shaft as well, resulting in the need for more extensive repairs.
#4 Check The Parts Around A Failed Seal
When a seal fails, do not just replace the seal. Make sure that you check all of the parts that are around the failed seal. This will help you determine why the seal failed in the first place and will allow you a chance to fix the bigger problem behind the failed seal.
For example, if you replace the rod seal, you are going to want to check the condition of the rod. If the rod is no longer straight, you are going to want to replace the rod as well as the seal. Always look for an underlying cause for a seal failing, and address that at the same time as you replace the seal to ensure the longest usable life of your hydraulic cylinder.