Resurrecting loader hydraulic cylinders

The cylinders are the one-way type. Prior to mounting them on the loader frame I did use a sledge hammer to 'tap' the cylinders down (don't worry, these are heavy duty welded casing with 2 inch cylinders).

Once I hooked up the hydraulics I didn't have anything connected to the cylinders. I applied the hydraulics and after a delay got them to pop into fully extended position. This made me feel that with connecting the loader its weight would push the cylinders back down. I felt that several up/down cycles would loosen things up even more.

It became very obvious that the geometry of trying to connect the loader arms to the fully extended cylinders wasn't going to allow me to fully install the cylinders.

So, should I just use the sledge hammer and hydraulics to cycle the cylinders several times and see if I can loosen them up?

This is all new to me...How free should the cylinder shafts be? BTW, they are smooth but with a glaze of rust...no chrome here!

TIA,

Paul.

My problem is that after they extended they acted like that was a 'chore'. Now I want to know if it would be a sound move to firmly strike the ends to force the shafts back into the cylinders...I would open the hydraulics to allow for fluid return while doing this.

As long as I don't damage the ends of the cylinder (very unlikely...these are built like a tank!) do you think this is reasonable?

Paul.

Mark

Maybe something like that will work for you.

Even if you ran the cylinder to the end, a 2" diameter cylinder with 2000 psig behind it will develop better than 6000 lbs of force. That's a lot of whoope.

Now if your piston has blown past your return line then that explains it.

Also, if you are trying to move the piston in the cylinder and are not using hydraulic pressure to do it, you need to vent both sides of the piston so that it can move. Otherwise you are fighting 1000's of lbs of pressure on one side and pulling a vacuum on the other side (of the piston).

Mark

Maybe something like that will work for you.

Even if you ran the cylinder to the end, a 2" diameter cylinder with 2000 psig behind it will develop better than 6000 lbs of force. That's a lot of whoope.

Now if your piston has blown past your return line then that explains it.

Also, if you are trying to move the piston in the cylinder and are not using hydraulic pressure to do it, you need to vent both sides of the piston so that it can move. Otherwise you are fighting 1000's of lbs of pressure on one side and pulling a vacuum on the other side (of the piston).

Mark