The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 49 Chevy Hydraulic Ram Repair

I didn't really see a sub forum to deal with this but please move if needed.

As far as I know these are the original rams put on when the dump bed was built in 49.
It lifts the bed but the passenger side ram is weak, lower than drivers side with a load in the bed. When I lift it up all the way the passenger side ram squirts oil out the top of the cylinder. I pulled the ram out and took pictures.
ram side
ram top
top
If the pictures don't show up I will try them again.
It is a simple ram with only one hose going in the bottom. The reason I am posting here is I am hoping someone has some experience with these old rams and can give me some info before I head out to the repair shop and pay too much to get it fixed. It looks like the top comes off with just a retainer ring holding it in. I have not tore into it yet.
Anyone have any ideas to fix it??
edit reason: trying to fix pictures

Sounds to me like the seals inside the cylinder are bad allowing oil to get on the top of the piston. Your pictures are so small it's tough to see what you have.

Ditto on the tiny pictures. If the top of the cylinder with the ram coming out of it can be unscrewed, or removed by taking a retaining ring out, it can probably be rebuilt. The entire top of the cylinder must be removable, however. Your #2 picture looks like a "welded" cylinder. I think I'd prefer to buy a new cylinder from somewhere like Northern Tool & Supply with the same diameter and stroke, rather than trying to patch on an old one, unless it can be fixed easily. Definitely don't let someone at a rebuilding shop take you to the cleaners just because it's old. Hydraulics are very simple- - - -pressure times piston area equals lift- - - -nothing complicated at all if a new cylinder will bolt in!
Jerry

You can put the new o rings and packing in your self if you can get it apart, the pictures didn't come up for me you may wnat to try them again.

I didn't think to put this in big bolts because my truck is only a one ton.

ram
ram top
top of ram

I am trying to make the pictures big enough to see.

If you can get it apart, the rod is not bent or scratched and the bore is not pitted from rust, you shold just be able to reseal it. A good hyd repair shop should be able to get you the seals or reseal it for you if your not comfortable doing it. I would think a price for them to do it would be $250-$300, but i may be wrong on that.

Having been in this type of business nearly all my adult life I wouldn't even think of attempting a rebuild if it costs over a hundred. A new cylinder can be had for $200-300 and you'd be way ahead of the game.

Some cylinders come apart easily, and the seals are not terribly expensive, but others are a real nightmare to disassemble, and the rebuild kits can be very expensive. It is hard to tell by your pictures, but the ram does not appear to be in very good shape (free of dents, scratches, debris etc.) If that is the case, it will quickly damage the new seals. Good luck, Scott

Ram looks Ok to me, it appears to have a snap ring holding the end cap in place, walk the ring out, pull the shaft and packing plug out and see what you have, seals and O rings should be simple enough to get, you might as well get enough for both rams and then your done with it.

Ram looks Ok to me, it appears to have a snap ring holding the end cap in place, walk the ring out, pull the shaft and packing plug out and see what you have, seals and O rings should be simple enough to get, you might as well get enough for both rams and then your done with it.

I am working till Thursday and will take them apart then. The top of the ram in the pics looks like crap but it doesn't go all the way in the cylinder. I will take pics when I pull them apart.