Wreck of the Month

Hydraulic Cylinder Side Load

At RHK Hydraulics, we see all kinds of failed cylinders. And some failures are nothing short of good content. In this new monthly feature, we will illustrate some horrific failures while diving into the cause and preventative measures.

 

 

 

 

Recently we received a cylinder for repair that suffered some major damage out in the field. In fact, the damage was so bad, the cylinder could not be extended or retracted as the gland and rod were completely galled up. Talk about putting a halt on operations.

WOTM1 2a 1

After disassembly and discussion with our customer, it was clear that excessive side loading was the culprit.  Side loading occurs when a perpendicular force is applied to the designated orientation of the cylinder. Side Loading is one of the most common cylinder failures.

WOTM1 3a 1

As you can see, the seals were ripped to shreds. Surprisingly the barrel came away unscathed, only in need of a hone.

Cylinder 2 Rebuilt ready for work
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Since 1990, RHK has been manufacturing hydraulic cylinders for a wide range of industries. Our Sales and Engineering team has extensive experience and is standing by to develop a custom solution for your application.

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