White lithium grease on cylinder rods

[CutTheHolesOut]

I have a TLB and sometimes it goes many months without use. I used to wipe some grease on the cylinder rods if I knew it would be in storage for a while. Today I didn’t have any tube grease that I usually use so I sprayed on some white lithium grease. It occurred to me after the fact that it might damage the seals but I really don’t know much about it.

Is it generally safe to spray the exposed cylinder with white lithium grease?

 

[5030]

Cylinder rods are hard chromed and you should NEVER coat them with anything in storage because that coating (if it collects dirt can cause seal failure) if it gets pulled into the seals on retraction. Hard chrome plated rods never rust and if the do it's from wear and at that time the seals will leak anyway.

Have you ever seen any construction equipment sitting with the rods coated with anything? Of course not.

 

[CutTheHolesOut]

Thank you for the fast response. The reason I started coating them is because I noticed a lot of small rust pits developing on them. Nothing is really leaking yet. And being that I bought the whole TLB combo for less than a new hydraulic piston I was just hoping to extend the life without any costly repairs. Do you think it could be a good idea to wipe as much of the grease off as I can and go over the pits with some 1000 grit sandpaper? Or would it be better to just leave it as is?

 

[CutTheHolesOut]

It is also kept outside in the elements. I forgot to add that bit of info

 

[5030]

Most commercial construction equipment sits outside all the time anyway. I would disregard the pits and when the cylinder starts leaking, take it to a hydraulic shop and have them re-rod it and replace the seals. Coating the rods with anything will only hasten the failure.

 

[CutTheHolesOut]

Thank you. That is greatly appreciated

 

[oldnslo]

What brand of TLB is this? Some cylinders have used other materials for cylinder rods besides hard chrome plated.

Like 5030 not a fan of using grease due to collecting dirt but if you have rods that are rusting I would suspect either faulty chrome plate or one of the other materials that may produce surface rust.

 

[oosik]

I bought my first tractor - brand new in 1982. Ford 1700. I traded it in on my Kubota in 2009. None of the cylinder rods showed any signs of wear, pitting or rust. I never greased the rods.

Perhaps as oldnslo says - some other type of material for the rods or perhaps a poor job of hard chrome plating.

I agree - do not grease the rods. It will not extend their life nor the life of the seals.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

I have used fine steel wool to clean up rust on cylinder rods with great results

 

[Doug Vee]

I think the best way to store the cylinders if outside would be in the retracted position. All my gear is stored in doors, so I don't have that concern.

Doug