Hydraulic & Pneumatic Cylinder Troubleshooting, Problems, Failure, Leakage

August 1 - 2019

4 locations and 10 spots to check if your hydraulic cylinder is leaking!
Find the reason for the leak.

Location	Check
1 Between Barrel and Heads	O-ring for any damage, knicks or cuts Surface finish of the barrel where it touches the seal should be smooth, with no sharp edges O-ring groove for any machine marks, debris, or surface imperfections Barrel ends to make sure they are square
2 Between Barrel and Heads Between Gland Bushing and Rod	Condition of the rod wiper. In harsh environments wiper damage leads to contaminants that in turn damage the piston rod seal Wear pattern on Gland bushing. If there is wear only on one side, this could be caused by side load which will damage the seal and reduce cylinder life Damage to surface of piston rod which will in turn damage the end gland seal
3 Between Gland Bushing and Heads	Loose fit of gland bushing causing the O-ring not to seal properly. This can be caused by side load or improper machining of the gland bushing. Tight tolerance here is required
4 Ports	Surface finish of the heads where your hydraulic fitting connects For Hydraulic cylinders SAE O-ring Boss Ports (ORB) are better than NPT for creating a seal and are highly recommended