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Drifting stabilizer

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
10,163
Location
usa
The only thing that will take a piece out of one or all of the piston rings is the threads in the cylinder barrel when installing the rod.
They either didn't compress the piston rings long enough before inserting them in the barrel, or they didn't have the piston aligned perfectly parallel with the barrel.
Holding a cylinder barrel in a vertical position and then inserting the rod assembly will eliminate seal damage. I use an engine hoist to hold the rod over the barrel before installing it.
Total BS that they charged you to repair their mistake. IMHO of course.
 

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
10,163
Location
usa
I use plain a ole automotive piston ring compressor.
Crank it down really tight, then wait a couple of hours and tighten it some more. Wait a couple more hours more before taking it off then put the rod in the barrel. The quicker the better.
A thin coating of grease on both the piston and the barrel threads will make it a little easier.
Put enough on the threads so that the piston rings push a small bead of grease into the barrel.

Where did the sheared off pisces go ? Hopefully they went harmlessly into the filter.
 

cosmaar1

Senior Member
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
732
Location
Ohio
I use plain a ole automotive piston ring compressor.
Crank it down really tight, then wait a couple of hours and tighten it some more. Wait a couple more hours more before taking it off then put the rod in the barrel. The quicker the better.
A thin coating of grease on both the piston and the barrel threads will make it a little easier.
Put enough on the threads so that the piston rings push a small bead of grease into the barrel.

Where did the sheared off pisces go ? Hopefully they went harmlessly into the filter.
I haven’t done that on the two I’ve fixed, but I’m not saying you are wrong either. The grease method worked for me although at times it’s pretty tight to get in there which obviously is a good thing!
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
18,026
Location
Canada
Sounds like a pretty shoddy place if they wouldn't fix it on warranty. Did you take the whole cylinder to them or just the rod? If the whole cylinder, it should have been warranty. If you put it back together it's on you.
I took just the rods in for my 4 in 1 bucket. I like the Cat cylinders because the bore is tapered wider at the end where the gland nut goes on. I oiled the seals and the piston went in far enough I could get the gland nut started. Tightening the gland nut pushed the piston in further. Also nice the threads on the barrel are external and the bore is smooth with no snap ring grooves or anything else for the seals to get damaged by. I have some more cylinders to do unfortunately including one of the lift cylinders. It's not real bad yet though. The backhoe cylinders leak more.
 

Tomvarner

Active Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2025
Messages
29
Location
Oklahoma
This was my first experience using them. I took them the complete cylinder. I pulled it off the backhoe and took it to them. They told me that in order for them to warranty it I would need a new rod because it has some dings. I told them it wasn’t leaking at the rod seals. It was just drifting down to the ground. Not holding its position. So I didn’t get a warranty on it. Sounds like you’re really doing a lot to your backhoe. How old is yours? What do you use it for mostly? Is it a caterpillar?
 

Swetz

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2019
Messages
1,792
Location
NJ/PA
Occupation
Retired :-)
If you do your own next time, and you find dings, they need to be stoned down. What I mean is if the chrome is raised, it will cut the seal, then you will have a leak. If you stone it smooth, it will not cut the seal. I have been using an angle grinder with the roloc or 3m discs to smooth the chrome for years now with no problems.
 

Swetz

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2019
Messages
1,792
Location
NJ/PA
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Retired :-)
Roloc...We generally just call them cookies...LOL
71pZS97Sr1L._AC_SX679_.jpg
 

Swetz

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2019
Messages
1,792
Location
NJ/PA
Occupation
Retired :-)
If you can TIG weld very good, you can actually fill in the dings and deep scratches using very little filler wire and a steady hand.

Beyond my abilities for sure.

I have herd of people using jb weld as well. For me, unless it is extreme, which sometimes happens when using a backhoe, I stone them down and they don't cause trouble.
 
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