Help finding hydraulic cylinder!

edkedk · Apr 9, 2011

I'm looking for a small cylinder, (ram). Something like a small bottle jack that is driven by an external pump. I have no room to pump the handle on a standard bottle jack. Closed length about 6 to 8 inches, extended length about 10 inches. The rod should be about 3/4 inch diameter with flat end. Of course cost is critical.

What I'm trying to build is a hydraulic, small tractor, wheel puller. I've tried mechanical pullers, but the cheap one I have and the one I built won't move my wheel off the axle.

I've searched the Internet and can't find any that fit my need. Any help is appreciated.

kennyd · Apr 9, 2011

Either the Surplus Center or Bailey's should have what you need.

LD1 · Apr 9, 2011

have you looked into a porta-power?

zzvyb6 · Apr 9, 2011

Many lawn tractors and mowers have a short length cylinder that could fit your requirements. My F935 mower has 2 of them to left the deck. I bought 2 extra ones off off eBay for $20 a piece as I recall. No specific use for them yet, but they are nice to think about some uses.

Otherwise you can easily cut a longer cylinder down. I used my table saw and a metal cutting blade to cut a 22" cylinder in half for my snow blade raise/lower job. Put the cap back on and used shorter threaded rod to hold the caps on. No big deal...

edkedk · Apr 10, 2011

As LD1 suggested, I've looked into the 4 ton, porta-power tool. It looks like it would do the job if the ram diameter is 1 inch or less. Does any one know the dimension of the ram rod?

edkedk · Apr 13, 2011

Thank you for pointing me towards the "Porta-Power" Tool. I picked up a 4 tonner for about $90, (plus tax). It has a 7/8 inch diameter by 2 1/2 inch ram tip. This was perfect for the 1 inch diameter axle which appeared to be "welded" to the wheel. After standing my 230 pounds onto the hydraulic pump handle, I got a loud pop and thought I'd broken the tool. Low and behold it was the wheel releasing on the axle. A few more pumps and the wheel was off. Again thanks for the advice. I not only got a wheel puller but it looks like a very versatile hydraulic tool for which I will find many uses.

LD1 · Apr 13, 2011

You've got to be careful with a portapower too. They can bend and break things that you dont intend to due to the amount of force they can generate.

Usually whenever I am using hydraulics or a puller on something, I DONT let it just brute power it off. Rather put some pressure on it and some coaxing with a hammer in certain areas and stuff usually pops appart a lot better. Rather than chance breaking something.

edkedk · Apr 16, 2011

Thanks for the hint LD1. I put pressure on the ram, then stuck a long piece of 2 x 4 on the back of the wheel and hit it with a hammer. Low and behold it broke loose. I easily rammed it off the rest of the way.