case IH 2388 leaky hydraulic cylinder

[Mark 5cott]

my hydraulic system has developed a significant leak right in the cylindrical part—it's pretty bad. I'm trying to figure out the repair. For anyone who's tackled this before, is resealing the cylinder a relatively simple matter of just replacing an O-ring or gasket, or is the process much more involved?
I'm hoping it's not a complex internal piston seal job. Any advice on what seals I should expect to replace would be a huge help!

Also, what are the chances that the cylinder rod or bore is actually scored or damaged, and how can I check for that once I disassemble it? Thanks!

 

[Alan]

If your barrel's leaking, it's probably the piston seal or wear ring, not just an O-ring on the outside. You'll probably need to swap out the rod seal, wiper, piston seal, and those backup rings. When you take it apart, give it a good look for scratches, if you feel any grooves or see shiny lines, that's bad news.

 

[FarmerFred]

my hydraulic system has developed a significant leak right in the cylindrical part—it's pretty bad. I'm trying to figure out the repair. For anyone who's tackled this before, is resealing the cylinder a relatively simple matter of just replacing an O-ring or gasket, or is the process much more involved?
I'm hoping it's not a complex internal piston seal job. Any advice on what seals I should expect to replace would be a huge help!

Also, what are the chances that the cylinder rod or bore is actually scored or damaged, and how can I check for that once I disassemble it? Thanks!

I agree with @Alan that it's definitely more than just a quick O-ring fix. You'll have to take the cylinder completely apart, and if you feel any groove, it's likely the rod is shot and will quickly ruin new seals. So if either the rod or the bore is damaged, don't waste your money on the seal kit and instead get a new rod or a complete cylinder assembly! But if the kit can fix it, make sure to also include the Gland O-ring aside from the seals he mentioned for replacement!

 

[RegUser]

Hey, also check the gland nut threads and retainer ring. If they look worn or aren't lined up right, they can mess up the seal and cause leaks, even if the seals are brand new. If you think there might be some scoring, use a telescoping gauge to check how worn the bore is.