Loader Small pit on cylinder shaft, can it be polished?

[Lindsey]

Ive done a few nicks by using fine emery cloth then mix up some epoxy and spread over the nick when cured polish it with fine emery cloth Ive done this on winch shafts and Diff . pinions seems to work ok sure saves a few bucks

 

[Soundguy]

Chances are that is just a little depression if it shows up on the fingernail test. Knocking it down with a fine stone should have taken care of any protuding burr, if you can run a fingertip over it without feeling something sharp trying to catch it it should be fine. I'm sure my tilt rams have far worse damage and they don't leak excessively. Plus, they're around 40 years old.

ditto that. my laoder cy;s are all around 50-60 ys old. they have their share of a few depressions.. a small stoned/honed dip usually don't tear seals..

 

[Soundguy]

Ive done a few nicks by using fine emery cloth then mix up some epoxy and spread over the nick when cured polish it with fine emery cloth Ive done this on winch shafts and Diff . pinions seems to work ok sure saves a few bucks

i'd never use epoxy on hyds... stuff eventually comes apart and lifts due to oil in the metal.. epoxy ain't fun to dig out of small orifices in checks and pilots.. BTDT with paint too.. for the jokers that like to paint exposed rods without oiling them first. really does a number on orbital valves too!

 

[rScotty]

Another ditto. Damage happens When I ding a cylinder shaft I use a flat "hone stone" like you'd use for sharpening a pocket knife. In fact, that's what it is. Don't try to go fast, just use the large flat side of the stone, some oil, and gently hone down any protruding rough edges. If you can flatten any protruding edges, the dent that remains in the shaft won't cause any problems. All of mine have a few dings, and some are closing in on half a century now...
rScotty.