Massey Trailer 2 Stage Ram Disassembly Help Required

congo181 · Mar 31, 2015

Hi All.
I'm currently in the final stages of renovating a 1960s 3.5 ton Massey Ferguson Tipping Trailer.
Unfortunately the seals on the Ram are knackered and I'm having real problems disassembling it.

Its a 2 stage ram, and I've got the large stage out from the outer sleeve OK, but no joy with the center section.

There was a cir-clip in the top of the ram which I've removed, and I can see what could be a sleeve or washer that this retained. This now moves in and out a little with the center bar, but no amount of force will pull it out. I've even hammered it using a bar from the bottom through the outer tube.

The base of the center section has a weld around it - do you think this needs removing? I hope not.

Any pointers in disassembling this type of ram would be gratefully received.
Pics attached.

Thanks,
Jim

wdchyd · Apr 1, 2015

Very common for those to be welded during the assembly process, unfortunately they require cutting the weld with a lathe carefully then rewelding

That sleeve you see inside might have another spiral lock or retainer ring just under it, try wrapping some masking or electrical tape around the rod in a candy-cane fashion, then screw the rod thru the spacer and see if the tape grabs the spacer to help pull it out, thus maybe exposing another ring under it

congo181 · Apr 2, 2015

Thanks for that wdchyd.

That's boring isn't it - not very serviceable.
Its currently residing in a bath of gunk to try and loosen the collar and I will try again.
Unfortunately, my 6" Southbend lathe is a little small to take the weld off

Ah well, I'll keep trying with it but its only £200 for a new one. Seems a shame to not be able to use the original in a restoration though.

congo181 · Apr 14, 2015

Well I took the ram to a couple of local hydraulic companies and they both said the same - cut the weld off.
So I did.
Then I got the collar out of the top that I mentioned was moving a bit, and there is a sprung internal ring behind it - so I didn't need to cut it at all.
Ah well....