I was given a 16ft wide John Deere disc last week. It didn't have a lift cylinder or hoses, so I went and got a generic cylinder.
I drove it home and everything appeared to work normally.
I went to attach it yesterday and while operating the hydraulic lift to raise it for attachement, the cylinder ram arm snapped off and the bracket on the disc where the ram arm attached bent severely (it is 1/2" thick, so it took a lot to bend it).
I have yet to disassemble because I'm waiting for my friend to come by and lend a diagnostic eye.
I broke in the down position.
My leading theory is that the "rocker shaft" seized and when the ram tried to push the wheels down, the resistance bent the bracket and snapped the piston shaft. The disc sat in the weeds for 15 years and I did NOT grease it yet, so rust is probably thriving.
My neighbor (without seeing the failure) thought maybe the cylinder is too long for the disc?
It was a 3" diameter cylinder with a 10" stroke. With the cylinder retracted, it seemed to fit perfectly. Since the ram broke while retracted, I suspect that the "throw length" wasn't the cause.
Any ideas?
I drove it home and everything appeared to work normally.
I went to attach it yesterday and while operating the hydraulic lift to raise it for attachement, the cylinder ram arm snapped off and the bracket on the disc where the ram arm attached bent severely (it is 1/2" thick, so it took a lot to bend it).
I have yet to disassemble because I'm waiting for my friend to come by and lend a diagnostic eye.
I broke in the down position.
My leading theory is that the "rocker shaft" seized and when the ram tried to push the wheels down, the resistance bent the bracket and snapped the piston shaft. The disc sat in the weeds for 15 years and I did NOT grease it yet, so rust is probably thriving.
My neighbor (without seeing the failure) thought maybe the cylinder is too long for the disc?
It was a 3" diameter cylinder with a 10" stroke. With the cylinder retracted, it seemed to fit perfectly. Since the ram broke while retracted, I suspect that the "throw length" wasn't the cause.
Any ideas?