Lift Cylinder

AA Ford Discussion Group relating to the repair and restoration of your AA Ford.
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wv model AA
Posts: 71
Joined: April 16th, 2013, 9:24 am
Body Type: Dump truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Shepherdstown, WV

Lift Cylinder

Post by wv model AA »

My 31 AA Dump Truck is a Heavy Duty Wood's Bed.

My Lift Cylinder leaks when in used from the stroke rod. A common problem.

The questions is, do you all know a recommended site that may have replacement seals?

I got "sticker shock" over the phone estimate from a professional hydraulic shop to reseal the cylinder.

Thoughts?
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Bob C
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Joined: April 24th, 2003, 11:50 am
Body Type: Mail truck, Stake tr
Model Year: 1931
Location: SO CAL

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by Bob C »

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wv model AA
Posts: 71
Joined: April 16th, 2013, 9:24 am
Body Type: Dump truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Shepherdstown, WV

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by wv model AA »

Here are some pics.
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HYD_2.jpg
HYD_2.jpg (17.49 KiB) Viewed 10461 times
HYD_1.jpg
HYD_1.jpg (19.21 KiB) Viewed 10461 times
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Stakebed
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Joined: June 14th, 2007, 7:29 pm
Body Type: Grainbox
Model Year: 1929
Location: Illinois

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by Stakebed »

since you have it out of the truck can you take it to a shop and see what they say? ask around at hyd shops, semi truck repair places, even construction equipment dealers.

OR take the seal out and start taking measurements to see what you find.
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wv model AA
Posts: 71
Joined: April 16th, 2013, 9:24 am
Body Type: Dump truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Shepherdstown, WV

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by wv model AA »

I'm going to take it apart myself.

I called a Hyd. Repair Shop and they estimated $500 and up, up, up to repair it including charging $85 p/hour. :shock:
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Bob C
Posts: 1442
Joined: April 24th, 2003, 11:50 am
Body Type: Mail truck, Stake tr
Model Year: 1931
Location: SO CAL

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by Bob C »

I looked in a Gar Wood catalog and they say four piston rings are used with separate grooves for each ring.
Maybe similar to an engine piston and rings.

Bob
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tiredtruckrestorer
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Joined: April 20th, 2003, 7:09 pm
Model Year: 1931
Location: Orwigsburg, PA

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by tiredtruckrestorer »

These older cylinders usually used a rope packing type material. You have to remove the collar where the piston shaft exits the cylinder body. There are two threaded studs with nuts on that hold the collar to the cylinder. Once you remove the collar the packing material should be underneath it. There are usually several layers of packing rings. You'll have to dig these out and try to get measurements. When installing new packing you cut the ends of the material at a 45 degree angle, not a straight 90 degree one. Stager the ends much like you do piston rings. McMaster Carr has packing material. Use the end collar to press the packing material in using the long studs and nuts to press it in. Sometimes you'll have to remove the collar and add more packing. Just don't crack the collar by tightening it up uneven. Sometimes a piece of pipe could be used to help press the packing in before using the collar. The hydraulic pumps and PTO's also used packings quite often back then rather than the seals we think of using today.

Keith
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wv model AA
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Body Type: Dump truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Shepherdstown, WV

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by wv model AA »

Thanks. One more question ! So, the Collar will be able to remove and I shouldn't have to remove the end cover plate?

Most questions I ask are common sense before trying something for the first time on my own. I just want to cover my bases.

The first time I watched this dump bed raise up & down on my AA, I was excited like a little kid. :D
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gunmetal 2
Posts: 222
Joined: April 1st, 2013, 12:51 pm
Body Type: 82-A
Model Year: 1929

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by gunmetal 2 »

Take the bolts out of the plate, under that there is probaly a O-ring. take it to a hyd. repair shop and tie to get the O-ring. If you e-mail a pic of the pcs. I can better understand what you have. my e-mail address is 1929oldlady@gmail.com good luke
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wv model AA
Posts: 71
Joined: April 16th, 2013, 9:24 am
Body Type: Dump truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Shepherdstown, WV

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by wv model AA »

Update: I know what the culprit to cause my cylinder to leak. The collar was cracked, welded, and cracked again. Furthermore; the dimensions of the collar that inserts into the cylinder cap has a lot of “slop” by my machinist standards, like .030 because the mounting holes don’t line up which force the cylinder to lift and add pressure against one side of the seal that results in leaking.

So my questions....Does the chamfer or do this design look familiar for a Wood's Collar for a Lift Cylinder ???
Attachments
collar2.jpg
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collar1.jpg
collar1.jpg (15.18 KiB) Viewed 10339 times
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drtrcrV-8
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Joined: October 16th, 2013, 9:22 am
Body Type: open
Model Year: 1928

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by drtrcrV-8 »

It's probably a waste of time to repair that collar: it's been brazed & re-broken, so it's probably quite brittle by now. If you have access to a milling machine(or know someone who does) I recommend making a new piece out of mild steel (instead of what looks like cast iron) for several reasons :1. it won't be brittle(bend instead of breaking) 2.much easier to make(the old piece, if repaired properly, needs to be machined anyway) 3. cost the same or less than the repairing the existing piece & wind up with a better part.
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wv model AA
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Joined: April 16th, 2013, 9:24 am
Body Type: Dump truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Shepherdstown, WV

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by wv model AA »

Oh, I will definitely make a new part from mild steel with tighter tolerances.
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tiredtruckrestorer
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Model Year: 1931
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Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by tiredtruckrestorer »

Yes, the chamfered collar looks typical of an older hydraulic cylinder. That should press against the packing material inside squeezing it against the cylinder shaft. Was there any packing material left inside?

Keith
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wv model AA
Posts: 71
Joined: April 16th, 2013, 9:24 am
Body Type: Dump truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Shepherdstown, WV

Re: Lift Cylinder

Post by wv model AA »

The only thing I see what appears to be a "rubber" seal. It looks fine and I don't believe its correct for the time period.

One a happier note. I laid a 12 scale against the shaft. Its perfect shape & straight.

I'm highly convince the old collar is the problem.
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