Boom and tilt cylinders on reach stackers carry heavy loads every day. A few simple habits significantly reduce seal replacements.
Cylinder failures usually start small: a scratch on the rod, a torn wiper seal or dirty oil. Catching them early avoids rebuilding or replacing the whole cylinder.
Daily checks
- Inspect the rod for scratches, pitting or flaking chrome.
- Look for leaks at the gland and oil film on the retracted rod.
- Boom drift under load – a sign of leakage past the piston seal or load-holding valve.
Why seals fail
- Dirty or water-contaminated oil, wrong viscosity.
- Bent rods from impacts or side loads.
- Failed wiper seals letting dust and grit in.
- Sustained high oil temperature.
When replacing seals
Measure rod and bore, polish or re-chrome if required, use correctly sized seal kits of the right material and fit them with proper tools. Custom cylinders such as the HC-120 boom cylinder need stroke, bore and mounting details when ordering.
Scheduled care
Monitor oil cleanliness, change filters on time, grease pivots and test load-holding valves. TTT engineers can inspect on site and quote for rebuild or replacement.
Need advice or a quote? Send the part number or a photo of the nameplate through our quote form or call 0909 580 181 – TTT engineers reply within the working day.
