"Bleeder hose" on antique cylinder

[lhfarm]

I have a late 40s, early 50s 3pt lift on my jeep. I had the cylinder rebuilt, using the parts that weren't completely rusted. This included an outlet at the top (ram end) for a "bleeder hose". It runs to the top of the reservoir. It was described as a "bleeder hose" in the 1949 installation instructions.

I have a hose installed, but a fellow restorer is trying to find a replacement cylinder. I can't think of a reason that the bleeder hose would be required. It was/is a power up/gravity down system, but should that require a separate hose if the control valve is mounted on the reservoir? Any idea of why they would have included the "bleeder hose"?

Thanks,

 

[TraderMark]

Barry,
Looks like you have a 'single acting' cylinder. Oil is supplied only to one side of the piston, the other side has to be vented to the atmosphere to prevent vacuum or compression of the air on the 'dry' side of the piston. Air has to be able to get in and out of the 'dry' side of the cylinder. I would imagine the reason they put a hose back to the top of the reservoir is in case the packing on the piston leaked and oil got into the "dry" side of the cylinder. The hose would carry any leaked oil back to the reservoir instead of letting it dump on the ground.

You may not need the bleeder 'hose' but you'll need some way to vent the air side of the cylinder. Single acting cylinders will have a vent, but you can use a double acting cylinder and either run the hose back to the reservoir or install a vent in the 'dry' side port.

Hope this helps.

Mark

 

[J_J]

The other end of the hose could have a small breather/filter to keep it away from all the dirt and grime. The filtered end of the hose may be in a more secluded place.

 

[lhfarm]

Barry,
Looks like you have a 'single acting' cylinder. Oil is supplied only to one side of the piston, the other side has to be vented to the atmosphere to prevent vacuum or compression of the air on the 'dry' side of the piston. Air has to be able to get in and out of the 'dry' side of the cylinder. I would imagine the reason they put a hose back to the top of the reservoir is in case the packing on the piston leaked and oil got into the "dry" side of the cylinder. The hose would carry any leaked oil back to the reservoir instead of letting it dump on the ground.

You may not need the bleeder 'hose' but you'll need some way to vent the air side of the cylinder. Single acting cylinders will have a vent, but you can use a double acting cylinder and either run the hose back to the reservoir or install a vent in the 'dry' side port.

Hope this helps.

Mark

It really helps! Thanks for the explanation. I guess I should have known that a single acting cylinder needed to be vented. I guess this was the solution this company used in '49.

 

[lhfarm]

The other end of the hose could have a small breather/filter to keep it away from all the dirt and grime. The filtered end of the hose may be in a more secluded place.

J.J -
The instructions are here Farm Jeep -Newgren Installation Instructions There are no filters anywhere. It is hard to read a couple of the diagrams, but interesting reading.

 

[mrmikey]

Another good reason is to prevent wet/damp air getting into the top of the cylinder.....Mike

 

[Soundguy]

J.J -
The instructions are here Farm Jeep -Newgren Installation Instructions There are no filters anywhere. It is hard to read a couple of the diagrams, but interesting reading.

you misunderstand... the filter JJ referred to is a common breather element screwed into a DA cyl that is being used SA.. that way it can breather.. liek that bleeder. and not let dirt get sucked in..

 

[wdchyd]

In some instances a low pressure return hose (or clear vinyl) can hooked up to reservoir......to keep water out and oil by-pass to tank at end of stroke (if seals wear)...

In our shop we call them "pi$$ tubes".......

 

[J_J]

In diagrams 5 and 2, there appears to be a small hose from the rod end of the cyl, and a small hose in the top of the tank assembly possible the same hose.

 

[lhfarm]

Yep, same hose. In the first page of instruction it says to attach the hose to the cylinder, but not to the reservoir. After you complete the installation and run the lift up/down a few times, then you attach the hose.

I have the pump shown in the instructions, but haven't hooked it up yet. On my to-do list for next week. I've had other pumps running the lift.