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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: terrifictimbersllc on April 19, 2012, 08:57:38 AM

Title: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: terrifictimbersllc on April 19, 2012, 08:57:38 AM
Anyone replace the hydraulic seals on the up/down clamp cylinder and is there anything hard about it?

Yesterday my clamp on my LT-40 super started acting up,  occasionally wouldn't go down. Run it up a bit then down would get it going but not always.  Tap on the top of it while pushing the lever down would get it going.  Flow/pressure was there.  Nothing was leaking and oil level was good.  Nothing wrong with the clamp cylinder that I could see looks like new.  Able to finish the job.   In the end I was pushing the lever down, and it blew apart  the hose going to the bottom of the cylinder (separated at the crimp on the end).  WM said it is likely the seal needs replacing.  Seal kit and new hose coming this morning by Fedex overnight. 
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: terrifictimbersllc on April 19, 2012, 09:20:38 PM
 >:(   >:( >:(   >:( >:( >:(   >:( >:( >:( >:(    >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
It's fixed.  Didn't believe it would happen. I will saw tomorrow.   Took me about 6 hours to get the cylinder apart.   
Grateful to WM tech service reps Doug and Ron who actually seemed to have taken one of these apart before themselves.
We'll see if the repair holds up tomorrow.  The end seal (at bottom of the cylinder) was broken, which seems to explain everything.
>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(   >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(    >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on April 19, 2012, 09:32:11 PM
That's GREAT news T.  :D I know you feel better....I would.

Ain't dem ORANGE people GREAT!
They'll walk you right through the process you have to fix.

Now let's see some sawdust!  8)
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: customsawyer on April 19, 2012, 09:46:47 PM
I have had a few of the cylinders to go out on me but then again I have 7000 hours on a mill that has been doing more than it should for a while. They will get your jaws tight, but once you have done a few it gets easier.
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: beenthere on April 19, 2012, 10:22:07 PM
terriffic....

That oughta cheer you up!!  like the smiley face... :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: Bogue Chitto on April 20, 2012, 07:02:03 PM
 I noticed the other day that there is movement or play in my clamp.  When it is free I can move it around about one inch to each side.  Is this normal?
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: Brucer on April 21, 2012, 02:41:04 AM
If the clamp is simply rotating around the horizontal guide shaft then it's not a problem.
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: terrifictimbersllc on April 21, 2012, 06:59:06 AM
Cut all day yesterday.  Wow the clamp goes down fast now!   At the beginning I was worried, he top end holder separated (moved up) about 1/16" from the cylinder body, thought it might blow out.  I had to re-use the retaining ring (wire) because I misplaced the new one in the repair ordeal.  It was probably a half inch shorter by the time I got it back in.  Plus I had bugged up the top end including the wire groove a bit.  But I think the 1/16 is just a bit of new play which doesn't matter.  Tossed around 4 giant logs so it got a workout.  If you don't know what I'm talking about consider yourself lucky.  I don't usually feel like taking pictures when it seems the world is coming to an end.  >:( >:( >:(

Also had to pay attention to routing of the hose lines which were readjusted by the time I got it back together.  If I hadn't watched this I would have torn off the new line to the bottom of the clamp.
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: PAmizerman on November 29, 2018, 11:08:25 PM
@terrifictimbersllc (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=11495)   

I have the same exact mill and problem.
I will be ordering the seal kit from WM tomorrow. Any tips for me before I dive into this?
Thanks
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: terrifictimbersllc on November 30, 2018, 06:11:10 AM
Its all a distant memory.   Maybe keep everything clean and organized and don't lose anything. 
Also have an extra cylinder on hand so you can take your time.  :) :) :)
Title: Re: LT-40 clamp cylinder seal repair
Post by: Crossroads on December 02, 2018, 07:07:28 PM
Glad you got it all back together TT! Looks like my plan to go full time on the mill is fading away and I'll be back to spinning wrenches soon :( had an interview last week that seemed to have gone well. Unfortunately, it's an hour drive each way.