Reluctant Hydraulic cylinder gland nut removal.

joea

Member

Equipment
B21 TLB
Aug 2, 2020
82
6
8
Marbletown NY
Need to find a good relatively cheap tool to help remove a cylinder end cap, with "radial" holes, picture attached. I have tools to remove the ones with holes "on top". Seems like Kubota chose hole sizes a bit small for most tools for that cylinder diameter.

Bought a "gear wrench" set on Amazon, which had a video of a guy wailing away on it. Me? broke the pin off first try. And I am no King Kong. Eh, they do provide 4 or 5 sizes in the set and I needed to use the smallest on. So, guess there is that.

Regardless, I need to reseal these cylinders on a Kubota B21 bucket (TL421). The holes are 5mm max, OD is about 2 to 2.5 inches.

Don't want to take these to a shop, have seals and tools, and have done all the others myself.

I guess I could make up something, if I can find hardened steel rod for the pins, but, last resort. Things like pipe wrench and heat are further away than that.
 

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Flintknapper

Well-known member
Premium Member

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L2350DT
May 3, 2022
1,687
2,122
113
Deep East Texas
Stop using that method and get a pipe wrench. You can put the cylinder in a vice (if careful not to tighten too much) but easier to just leave it on the front loader until you've broken the nut loose.
 
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D2Cat

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,333
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40 miles south of Kansas City
You might get it started with a punch, striking it to go in a counterclockwise direction. 5mm isn't much of an opening to get anything into!
 

Fedup

Active member
Apr 6, 2016
218
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28
Winchester
Stop using that method and get a pipe wrench. You can put the cylinder in a vice (if careful not to tighten too much) but easier to just leave it on the front loader until you've broken the nut loose.
There's the right answer. I break the head loose while the cylinder is still on the machine. I never use the "special tools" that fit in the holes. A pipe wrench and if needed, a cheater pipe on that. If you're too picky to put up with a few scratches when you're done, then buy new cylinders and keep it all "shiny".
 
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