Hydraulic Cylinder Ends - Spacing? Shims?

6731 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Tomfive, Jun 10, 2012

Tomfive

Discussion Starter · Apr 18, 2012

I was looking at the hydraulic cylinder ends where they are pinned between the frame members on my BH. As they came from the factory, some had shims and some didn't. The shimmed joints had some play, about .020" to .050" clearance. There was one end with no shims and there was about 1/4" spacing.

I then checked the FEL, and most joints had minimal clearance except the ends at the front bucket. Those had anywhere from 1/4" to 3/8" movement on the pins.

Me being a little anal, I like a minimal amount of clearance with no binding, so I added shims to the BH cylinders to lower the clearance. I didn't do the FEL.

What does everyone else think/do about this, are shims needed? what clearance should I be looking for? is what I'm doing bad or good? :unknown:

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Tomfive

Discussion Starter · #2 · Apr 18, 2012

Follow up

Follow up to my original post, I don't have any worries with shimming up the clearances with most of the cylinders, but I was questioning the ones just behind the FEL bucket. I can move mine almost 1/2 inch side to side on the pin. Should I just leave it alone?:unknown:

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Brian

· #3 · Apr 18, 2012

I am no expert on this! But I like to shim these joints and keep them tight to help keep the grease in and the dirt out. :unknown:

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Kennyd

· #4 · Apr 18, 2012

I see no harm in shimming them, but I don't think its necessarily needed either. If it makes you feel better then do it:good2:

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arlen

· #5 · Jun 10, 2012

Brian said:
I am no expert on this! But I like to shim these joints and keep them tight to help keep the grease in and the dirt out. :unknown:

I've wondered about this on my FEL. What would you use to shim the slop? Machine washers?
Another think I noticed, all of the pins on the FEL (400cx) have the grease zerk set off center. At first I thought the pin was eccentric for adjusting clearance, but I don't see where it could be adjusted. So why are the zerks set off center?

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Tomfive

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 10, 2012

arlen said:
I've wondered about this on my FEL. What would you use to shim the slop? Machine washers?

I used Speeco Machinery Bushings that I picked up from TSC, they are thinner and not as large in diameter than bolt washers. I guess you can pickup similar at other places.

arlen said:
Another think I noticed, all of the pins on the FEL (400cx) have the grease zerk set off center. At first I thought the pin was eccentric for adjusting clearance, but I don't see where it could be adjusted. So why are the zerks set off center?

I noticed the same on my H120 FEL. The pins with the nuts on one end are eccentric on the opposite end so you can tighten them, the zerk is in the center of the shaft. I'm not sure about the ones that are held in with a snap ring, but my guess is they are also eccentric on one end so they don't rotate. :unknown:

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Hydraulic Cylinder Ends - Spacing? Shims?

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