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General.
Improper storage of air and hydraulic cylinders can lead to premature failure of the seals and other wear items.
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Basic Needs.
When a cylinder leaves our factory, it has been pressure tested and then sealed ensure that contaminants do not enter the cylinder ports. The rod thread is also protected against accidental contact damage. The cylinder’s ins only of value if it remains in its protected state prior to being used. The following guidelines should be used for storage and handling of cylinders prior to being installed on machinery.
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DO…
- 1. Do ensure that port plugs remain secured in the ports until just prior to being connected the fluid source. Any contamination that enters the cylinder will cause premature wear resulting in shortened life.
- 2. Do keep rod threads protected from impact damage by either pre-installing clevises or putting a protective sleeve over the threads. The sleeve can be cardboard tube or old hose ends. The rods should be fully retracted during storage to avid damage.
- 3. Do tag spare cylinders with machine center information so they can be quickly found.
- 4. Do leave room for cylinders on shelves so they are not crowded. Cylinder heaped on each other will pull out the port plugs and damage other key components or labels, pins and grease fittings.
- 5. Do store cylinder in ready-to-use state which mean all pins, clevises, grease fittings, retainers et car wired together and connect with the cylinders so they cannot be separated.
- 6. Do store heavier cylinders on the lower or bottom shelves to reduce personal strain when handling.
- 7. Store cylinders with rods retracted for maximum protection.
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DO NOT…
- 1. Do not store cylinders outside for any length of time. Exposed surfaces including the chrome rods can rust quickly and will cause rapid failure of seals and bushings.
- 2. Do not spray rods or cylinders with CRC, WD40 or other water displacement chemicals. Theses chemicals cause the urethane seals to swell thus leading to premature seal failure or cylinder jamming. Use a proper soluble wax rust preventer if required. A light mineral oil can be used to coat the inside for cylinders that will be stored longer than 6 months.
- 3. Do not dismantle cylinders in stores to salvage spare parts. The spare cylinder at this point is useless although it may appear to be intact and functional. Tie rod tension may be in correct which may result in cylinder failure of persona injury in the event of a tie rod failure or cylinder leak.
Port plugs and proper storage.
NPT push in style and SAE thread in style plugs are shown below.
