Hydraulic cylinder leaking

[dfixit1]

I had purchased a used snowblower a couple months ago for my L4240hstc-3 and was spring cleaning my barn today and saw the lift cylinder was leaking.
Priced the parts on Messicks.
Cylinder 02”x5” 70000-02740 $285.63
Seal kit cylinder 70001-00872 $34.97
Gland nut wrench

Any recommendations for a gland nut wrench?
From what I can see of the shaft it looks good.
Never resealed a cylinder before but it looks simple enough?
Regards

 

[D2Cat]

The gland wrench is simply a lever that fits that particular type of cylinder gland for leverage. Some have a notch to set in on both sides. Often you can use a pipe wrench gently to turn it off.

A couple of YouTube video will give you a quick lesson on what to expect. The biggest challenge seems to always be getting the new O-ring inside the gland nut. If you ever do more then one in you lifetime this is worth the $28!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Hydrauli...054261?hash=item1f0ef6feb5:g:jDwAAOSw~upeo9gt

 

[Captain13]

The last cylinder I rebuilt was on my Timberwolf log splitter. I found that a chain wrench worked better than anything I have used, other that a spanner wrench made for the cylinder.

 

[Roadworthy]

If you have a regular hydraulic shop in the vicinity take the cylinder to them for a repair estimate.

 

[dfixit1]

Thanks for all the advice!
I always been a DIY guy and tool collector!

 

[200mph]

Please post pictures and helpful hints of the repair.

I'm guessing I'll need to do a similar repair in the future on my quick hitch/subframe.

Good luck!

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I'll second D2Cat. I managed to finagle the first rod seal in by hand, but I could see lots of ways you could cut a seal, so I bought that set of tools. I've used them a couple of times, slick.

If your glands need a face spanner, I bought one of these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/151029962191
Mine weren't very tight, but it worked like a champ. USA made too. Make sure it's the right size and clean out the holes (1/4" drill bit works) for max grip.

If you haven't already, check your rod for pitting. If it's pitted a kit is only a short term fix, if at all.

 

[dfixit1]

Pulled the cylinder today, simple two pins and checked shaft and measured holes in gland nut 13/64. I might make a tool out of a crude homemade spanner wrench and a 13/64 drill bit to see if I can remove nut before ordering parts and tools.
Btw 13/64 equals 5.1594mm

 

[Dave_eng]

Every Kubota WSM info on cylinder seal replacement is concerned about non round seals being rolled into their new position.

They want repairers to make and use two different tools.

One tool to stretch the seal over the piston and another tool to compress the seal for installation into the cylinder.

Read the page attached.

Also attached are instructions from Messicks.

My point in all of this is that seal replacement is one of those jobs that looks simple but really has dimensions that are not apparent to the beginner.

Dave

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Confession, Dave. I didn't use either of those . I was careful .

 

[dfixit1]

I’m wondering if this was self inflicted from the bouncy trailer ride home as I recall reading in the manual after I got home the cylinder was supposed to be stowed or supported a certain way during transport? I remember saying out loud, great! Probably should have pulled the pins!

 

[dfixit1]

I am at a loss on pin size. A 13/64 drill bit fits. I made a tool using chuck end of the bit and snapped one off trying to remove. Then I found 13/64 dowel in my punch drawer and made another tool. Tried loosing the gland and could not budge it. Smacked the tool with a 3lb hammer and bent the pins.
So I thought I would get the OTC gland wrench but can not find any that pin size.
Thoughts?
Guess I have to use 3/16 or 5mm pin size.
Williams 482 Adjustable Face Spanner, 2-Inch
https://www.amazon.com/Williams-Adjustable-Spanner-Wrench-diameter/dp/B001DNWVH8/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=3%2Binch%2Bspanner%2Bwrench&qid=1589080152&sr=8-17&th=1

Found this vid for mission impossible caps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whH4CS0mWng
Maybe need some heat? Saw a comment that some gland nuts use loctite. But I thInk he made his round cylinder oval? Why not use pin lug?

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Is that by chance an aluminum cylinder? I've read where some folks weren't ever able to get the head off an aluminum cylinder.
There's a seal right next to the flange, so PB Blaster or what ever probably can't get far but it might help.
I'd put the end of the cylinder on an anvil and hammer around the cylinder. Just over the part where the gland threads are. You might get more torque with a pipe wrench. Heat would be my last resort, since if you melt or burn those seals it's more gunk in the threads.

 

[dfixit1]

Is that by chance an aluminum cylinder? I've read where some folks weren't ever able to get the head off an aluminum cylinder.
There's a seal right next to the flange, so PB Blaster or what ever probably can't get far but it might help.
I'd put the end of the cylinder on an anvil and hammer around the cylinder. Just over the part where the gland threads are. You might get more torque with a pipe wrench. Heat would be my last resort, since if you melt or burn those seals it's more gunk in the threads.

I believe it is steel but will double check it. PB Blastered it this morning. Lol
Not enough nut thickness for pipe wrench and heat would be last resort.
Thanks.
Gave it the magnet test, steel.

 

[Magicman]

Thank You D2Cat for the link to the Hydraulic Seal Tool. That is the missing link that I have needed for years and had no idea that they existed.

 

[dfixit1]

Success! I was getting ready to order a 3/16 inch tool and realized it was only 6 inches long and then I ran across a post where someone made a tool out of a crescent wrench. I found a punch in my tools that measured .205 and it fit the gland but perfectly. Took a cheap large wrench and drilled out .202 holes and pressed in punch and cut off.
I also think the PB Blaster helped, supported in a vice at the pin boss and the tool loosened the gland nut like a champ!
I noticed retaining nut was staked to secure it in place.
Time to order the kit! See pictures.

 

[BobbyK]

been following this thread.

Nice work on getting the cylinder cap off.

Last thing I would have suggested is a pipe wrench, as that chews things up pretty bad.

 

[Lencho]

Nice job on the adjustable wrench mod!

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Good deal! One of these days you'll probably need the 1/4" version.

 

[dfixit1]

Finally had time to rebuild cylinder. It was easy to see why it leaked! The hydraulic oil seal was an O ring with a flat washer. The replacement was a standard lip seal. The cylinder had stamping 5900029 E120920 and the Kubota seal kit 70001-00872 had a number blacken out 665434.
If anyone knows who the actual manufacturer of cylinder or kit please update in this thread.
Also when I installed the internal retaining nut on ram I used blue Loctite and some anti seize on cap threads.