Overhaul a hydraulic cylinder or buy new? How to decide

A hydraulic cylinder rarely fails overnight. First comes a small oil leak, slower movement or a drop in force. That is the moment to consider an overhaul – for larger cylinders it is usually much faster and cheaper than a new unit.

When an overhaul pays off

If the cylinder barrel and piston rod are in good condition, it is often enough to replace the seals and guide bushings and repair minor surface damage. For large press cylinders, where a new cylinder is expensive and has a long lead time, an overhaul is usually the obvious choice.

When a new cylinder is better

Deep scoring on the piston rod, deformation, corrosion of the pressure section or repeated failures of the same type may mean a repair is not worth it. Diagnostics after dismantling will tell.

What an overhaul involves

Removal, disassembly, inspection and measurement of parts, replacement of seals and worn components and, if needed, repair of the rod surface. Finally a pressure test and function check before reinstallation.

Plan ahead

If you know a cylinder is near the end of its life, schedule the overhaul for a shutdown. That way you avoid unplanned production downtime.

We provide hydraulic cylinder service and overhauls, including removal, transport and reinstallation.