Hydraulic Cylinders - Rebuild?

[Whitey]

OK after months of trying to find better prices.....and after tiring of looking for individual parts....I have decided to bite the bullet and buy seal kits for all of my hydraulic cylinders (7) for my JD 7 backhoe. I feel that this work will be of benefit for operation and value in the long run. Has anyone out there ever rebuilt their cylinders on a similar sized backhoe? What can I expect? Mine has about 1300 + - hours and minor weeping in all cylinders. Not to mention the rubberbands keeping the stabilizers up!

Thanx

JD 770 / 70 FEL / 7 BH - 425 AWS / 54"mmm / 54" FMP

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT get the seal kits from John Deere. You can take them off and have them rebuilt for less than what they charge for their kits. Hercules Sealing Products. I'll look up your seal configuration and see how complex they are.

 

[Whitey]

I appreciate that. I tried the web page you posted....they could not help me. The cylinders are only 2 1/2" + - that is small to them. Maybe I did something wrong when I talked with them. I am all ears I haven't pulled the trigger yet!

 

[Wayne County Hose]

JD 770 / 70 FEL / 7 BH - 425 AWS / 54"mmm / 54" FMP

Are the above your machine model #'s? I didn't see anything listed for these #'s.

Another thing is to call your local JD dealer, tell them what you need. Ask them for part #'s, price, and availability. You can probably order the kits aftermarket with the part #. Also, this will let you know what JD charges for the kits. Maybe they are reasonably priced. You might get lucky.

You called Hercules? They have seals from 1/2" up to 12" and bigger. I get seals all the time for small cylinders. I think maybe they didn't know exactly what you wanted. They are geared towards supplying shops. Let's see if we can get you in the right direction.

 

[Whitey]

OK I'am back....had to get to a couple of jobsites today. Got 5" of snow last night with sleet starting this morning on top. Poor wife will have to dig out with the loader instead of her pet 425. I printed the blowups of the cylinders and got the model numbers off of the JD site last night. Are you saying just call them and cross reference???? I looked at there online parts catalog list and found not a match the first time.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Did you get part #'s for the seal kits? If you would like, it might be easier to talk to you directly. I'll be in my shop tomorrow morning, from about 8:00 to noon. Andy. 570-251-8888.

 

[EddieWalker]

Whitey,

I can't speak for John Deere since I don't have one, but I can speak for New Holland and Case. They sell kits for their cylinders that include seals for a variety of cylinders. After you finish the rebuild, you will still have more then half the kit left over. Kits for my tractors run from $50 to the low hundreds, depending on the cylinder. If they have upgraded the piston or something else, then it can cost several hundred dollars for the new parts to make the seals work.

I found a cylinder rebuild shop in town that stocks and sells each individual seal for the cylinder. I do one cylinder at a time, and only after it starts leaking real bad. When I get it apart, I bring the piston and old seals to the Cylinder Shop and show them what I want. Usually all he needs is the make and model to already know what seals I need, but a few times he gets out his calipers and double checks.

Cost to rebuild a cylinder is now $20 to $40.

Get out the yellow pages, or if you can, ask one of the mechanics where they have the cylinders fixed when they are overwhelmed with work, or it's just too much for them to handle. Every shop farms to work to some degree to specialists, they just don't advertise it.

Eddie

 

[dfkrug]

I can't speak for John Deere since I don't have one, but I can speak for New Holland and Case. They sell kits for their cylinders that include seals for a variety of cylinders. After you finish the rebuild, you will still have more then half the kit left over.

I have bought the kits from JD for their loaders....about $40 ea, and you are
right that there are a lot of extra unneeded parts in it.

Next time I may try Hercules as WAYNECOUNTY suggests....you can
download the PDF catalog and it is HUGE.

 

[cabover4us]

I'm in the same boat as Whitey, have a 855 with a #7 backhoe, left hand swing cylinder sprays hydro oil out when you swing left then when it comes back to middle or towards drivers side oil sprays out. Dealer in Easton, ny said barrel is pitted and scord. new cylinder is $570.00. Brought cylinder over to reeds hydralic repair, waiting for a quote.... not sure what to think. I'm thinking i might tell jd to cancel the order on monday morning.

greg

 

[Wayne County Hose]

These swing cylinders get the snot kicked out of them. Usually it's the rods that take a beating, not the barrel. $570 each is not a bad price from JD. Many times if the dealer doesn't have a hydraulic shop, they want to sell you new. Check the quote and ask about warranty on the repaired cylinders.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Whitey, what ever happened?

 

[ScottAR]

What he said...

Either my dealer is amazing or some dealers are charging too much. A seal kit for the Case 580 is about $20 and I have one part left that fits the later style cylinders. I could probably make it cheaper by just getting the dirt wiper and the U seal but for $20, I just change everything.

 

[Nuru]

Are there any local hydraulic repair companies local to you? when I replaced the seals on one of my cylinders on a snow plow I used to have I did find a company locally that would repair the cylinders

 

[cabover4us]

barrel was ruined, and I did tell jd to cancel, reeds hydro shop made me a new one for $180 plus tax, and even called amera-quip equipment mfger of my #7 hoe they even told me they would charge me $300 per cylinder far cry from jd's $570. greg

 

[dfkrug]

barrel was ruined, and I did tell jd to cancel, reeds hydro shop made me a new one for $180 plus tax, and even called amera-quip equipment mfger of my #7 hoe they even told me they would charge me $300 per cylinder far cry from jd's $570.

Glad that worked out, Greg. I wonder if the cylinder was always scored
inside, or did you get dirt inside it?

 

[Whitey]

Sorry Wayne County Hose.......I got a wild hair up.......I was about to pull the trigger on a new machine and trade the 770 in but the kid at JD misquoted me on a new tractor. Sound to good to be true and it was. I do have a couple guys looking at it this week and if she goes I got my eye on two used ones in NY. If she does not go this week I am going to invest in rebuilding all of my cylinders. I will start by taking one off and taking it to RJ Hydraulics to price up and if it is reasonable I will get them to do the rest. Your point was well taken about the shop rebuild and fluid pressure test. In the long run If I keep the tractor I will go over it with a fine tooth comb and keep her. PS while I was deciding to get rid of her.....I cut a new driveway in.....48 tons of material out and spread at the lower end of our property and 48 tons of 2A limestone in. The old girl worked flawlessly during the two long weekends.

JD 770 / 70 FEL / 7 BH - 425 AWS / 54" MMM / 54" FMP

If you falter in times of trouble...how small is your strength - Proverbs 24:10

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Whitey, you're back! Glad you found a good shop nearby. It's common practice to replace a barrel or a rod. Usually a lot cheaper than a new cylinder. Good luck.

 

[Whitey]

OK update.....This is for you Wayne County Hose.....I bit and took the backhoe off and took the three cylinders off the boom and dipper stick. The cost for a bench rebuild for parts and labor was $ 68.00 including tax apiece. But the best was I got to tear down the backhoe and inspect all of the working components. The pins were in good shape but I will replace a couple....a couple of grease zerks.....but the big surprise was the condition of the hoses! I found three that were worn down to the braiding and rusting through! Yikes But all is not lost a hose maker within six miles. So all in all when done and cleaned up a nice little repair project done by a guy that normally does not spin a wrench for a living.

PS. The stabilizer cylinders are OK...got a sway one leaking but that one for another day...dirt is calling.

JD 770 / 70 FEL / 7 BH - 425 AWS / 54" MMM / 54" FMP

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Whitey, $68 each? Wow, that is cheap. Truthfully, I don't think I would touch them for $68 each. But, I do pressure test and fill with oil which most shops either don't do or charge extra for.
Thanks for the update, Andy.

 

[fluttersmith]

almost 8 years later - could you identify the cylinder rebuild shop in tyler? Or any other in north or east texas that will sell individual seals?