Welding cross tubes to a hydraulic cylinder

SDMike · Apr 20, 2018

I want to change 2 hydraulic cylinders to cross tubes for mounting. When I cut off the old mounts and weld on the new tubes, I am planning on having the ram completely extended. Are there any other precautions I should take to not damage the seals on the ram piston? Thanks

Mike

jon f mn · Apr 20, 2018

Other than leaving the fitting open so it can breath you should be fine. Be prepared for burning oil, altho that is unlikely.

jeffcat · Apr 20, 2018

Yes, when oil gets a bit tooo hot it can surprise you quick. Oil can flash ignite. Keep an extinguisher handy. ABC type is good, CO2 Is even more gooder. I have put out a couple of fryer fires in my lifetime. They make a little smoke, then go poof, and a couple of seconds latter you have a fully involved fire bomb. Five gallons of hot grease at 425? plus gets very exciting. NEVER EVER USE WATER!! Water makes hot grease explode all over the place very violently.

Steve@Advance · Apr 20, 2018

If you can snake a small tube into the port, bleed in a slow flow of co2 or argon.

Not only will prevent fire, but will help keep oil from charring on the cylinder wall while welding.

Adirondack case guy · Apr 20, 2018

Protect the rod close to the weld so the spatter doesn't pit the rod. A simple piece of tin wrapped over the rod with a hose clamp will do the trick. I presume that you are working with at least an 8" stroke cylinder, so I don't think you will have to worry about heat transfer down the rod causing damage to seals, or a fire, but you should have a fire extinguisher in your shop, anyway.
Loren

grizz02 · Apr 20, 2018

you can wrap the shaft in aluminum foil to keep spatter away

DoubleO7 · Apr 20, 2018

If your only changing the base mounting, just extend the rod as you mentioned.
Feeding some inert gases as mentioned would be a good idea.

If your changing the end of the rod and can not screw the end off the rod, then extend the rod out all the way.
Wrap the rod with dripping wet shop rags to protect the rod from any splatter and suck the heat away.

ben brown · Apr 20, 2018

way i do that is i wrap the rod in a wet towel keeps them cool and the splatter of the rod

mjsnodgrass · Apr 21, 2018

if you have an acetylene torch set, light just the acetylene and "smoke" the cylinder rod nice and thick. splatter won't stick to the chrome rod. also the black soot starts burning off at about 500 degrees or so. you can use it as a poor mans tempt stick. install any bushings after the welding the cross head, and it has cooled. a little air blowing through the cross head after welding will cool it down pretty quick. good luck

Welding cross tubes to a hydraulic cylinder

SDMike

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jon f mn

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jeffcat

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Steve@Advance

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Adirondack case guy

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grizz02

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DoubleO7

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ben brown

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mjsnodgrass

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