TL720 Lift cylinder

[247mechanical]

Hi everyone,

I have a L35 with a TL720 loader (ser# 10093). Well the boom cylinder has had a small drip for awhile. Yesterday the packing blew while using it. I picked up a seal kit at the dealer, but I cannot get the aluminum end cap to break loose from the cylinder. I took it to a hydraulics shop and they said they will try to get it apart (they also told me it was a stupid design by Kubota to mix metals like that). So if they can't get it apart, I called the dealer to check on availability of a new boom cylinder and they said it was no longer available???

Has anyone had any experience with this? And are there any substitute cylinders for my loader

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You will probably have to have one custom made.

 

[steveInMaryland]

Not the end of the world. I also own an L35 and I admit it has been a challenge.

Anyway; checkout sites like https://www.hydraulic-supply.com for a total replacement. Check knuckle sizes, bore, contracted length and extended length and there are cylinders out there.

Good luck and Semper Fi.
Steve

 

[247mechanical]

Thanks Steve I will call them tomorrow. 101st Screaming Eagles 1986-89

 

[L35]

If you can't get it loose with the spanner get after it with a large pipe wrench and some heat. Break it loose while its mounted to the tractor to hold the cylinder still.

 

[steveInMaryland]

Actually I can't agree more with L35. My curl cylinders had the same two little 1/4 holes for a spanner wrench but they have been so abused the spanner won't work anymore.

I took a hacksaw blade down the edge of the cylinder lip of the steel tubes and removed the two holes and cut a perpendicular slice of the aluminum to create an end I could get a really big adjustable wrench on the end and removed them. They are not really super tightly torqued in there, just need a bit of material. In the end, a big pipe wrench can get them out but a replacement end cap is about $300.00. You can replace the whole cylinder for that.

I can pm you a drawing if you like.

Semper Fi.
Steve

 

[Rolling Stock]

FYI, sometimes you cannot get an aftermarket cylinder with the exact same specs. If you are unable to repair it I recommend replacing both cylinders as a set for 2 reason. First, with the possibility of not having the same specs internal and external spacers may need to be fabricated and installed so the cylinders are matched at full stroke and collapsed so as to not bend your loader or damage mounts. Second, with 1 cylinder being older the remaining service life is a lot less and performance will be uneven.

Just my .02

 

[lugbolt]

Ran into this issue a while back. The steel threads in the barrel of the cylinder assembly get corroded (rusty) and then the aluminum gland gets welded (seized) to the barrel. Removing it usually means it will get damaged. If not damaged too badly (broken), a machine shop should be able to make a new gland up pretty easily. It won't be all that cheap but it will be a LOT cheaper than buying a new replacement cylinder assembly from Kubota.

 

[247mechanical]

Thanks for all the comments. I found a hydraulic shop that is going to cut the gland out and then make a new one