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- Mar 21, 2018
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Link to Part 2.
Link to Part 3.
PART 1. The Ram.
I have a Harbor Freight 10 ton portable power hydraulic system that I have had since 1992.
I recently had a need to use it, only to find out that the seals were shot. Of course, replacements were no longer available. Since I didn't want to have to purchase another set, a redesign was in order.
First task was examining the ram parts.
The parts to the seal, including what remained of two active seals is shown above. The rest of the active seals completely disintegrated. Nothing can be reused in the design except the metal cap and the wavy spring on the left.
I picked up a U-cup seal that met the ID and OD of the ram. Since the new seal takes up less space than the originals, I had to make some spacers. The first spacer backs up the seal and prevents it from being extruded up the ram tube. The second, thinner spacer gives the wavy spring something solid to bear against. Here is the ram piston assembled with the new part.
The whole assembly went back into the ram quite easily. I had expected a rough go of it, but it slid in with minimal effort. Ram completed, so on to the pump in part 2.
Link to Part 3.
PART 1. The Ram.
I have a Harbor Freight 10 ton portable power hydraulic system that I have had since 1992.
I recently had a need to use it, only to find out that the seals were shot. Of course, replacements were no longer available. Since I didn't want to have to purchase another set, a redesign was in order.
First task was examining the ram parts.
The parts to the seal, including what remained of two active seals is shown above. The rest of the active seals completely disintegrated. Nothing can be reused in the design except the metal cap and the wavy spring on the left.
I picked up a U-cup seal that met the ID and OD of the ram. Since the new seal takes up less space than the originals, I had to make some spacers. The first spacer backs up the seal and prevents it from being extruded up the ram tube. The second, thinner spacer gives the wavy spring something solid to bear against. Here is the ram piston assembled with the new part.
The whole assembly went back into the ram quite easily. I had expected a rough go of it, but it slid in with minimal effort. Ram completed, so on to the pump in part 2.
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