Best replacement cherry picker cylinder?

[MushCreek]

Well, my old cherry picker failed to get it up this morning (I can relate!) I've gone through three cylinders over about 35 years. The first one lasted the longest. Then, I got a two-pack from Northern. One failed quickly; the second one lasted for many years. The question is- Is there a good quality ram you can buy? All of them seem to be similar in price and quality these days (read Chinesium).

I'm gettin' old; if I got one that lasted ten years, I'd probably be too old to use it after that. Or- can I get new seals and rebuild my existing one? I like it because it's double acting, meaning it raises up much faster. Just curious what the collective GJ mind thinks.

 

[zendriver]

I had some old ones rebuilt last year was $250 each, they were on backhoe loader so they were fairly good size.

could not replace them for that.


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[MushCreek]

New ones from Northern are about $75 for two of them.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Hf one has been going for about 6 years for me so far. Think I paid $60 back then

 

[mikegt4]

Since it has already failed take it apart and see if you can get replacement seals. Any new cylinder is most likely will have been made in China.

 

[66cj225]

Are you analyzing the supply chain? A "cherry picker" can be a lot lot of different machines- from picking a jar off off the top shelf to a 110 ft tree worker. The only way a double acting goes twice as fast as a single acting cylinder is by using the return side and at half the power. ?? Do you park next to the surface grinder?

 

[MushCreek]

In this case, 'cherry picker' is the slang term for a hydraulic engine hoist. The double-acting cylinder goes up twice as fast until it meets resistance.

 

[59 wagon man]

if your talking about an engine hoist style cherry picker i would go air over hydraulic

 

[Lucid Moments]

Do yourself a favor and get an air/hydraulic cylinder while you are at it. I inherited one that already had such a cylinder on it and let me tell you letting a little blow do the work beats the hell out of pumping it a thousand damn times to get it up.

 

[metlmunchr]

Another vote for the air over hydraulic. Have one from HF that's still chugging right along at 10+ years. About $90 now IIRC, but with the 20% coupon its $72. It still has the same manual operating capability for those times when you don't want to drag out an air hose.

 

[joe_padavano]

Do yourself a favor and get an air/hydraulic cylinder while you are at it. I inherited one that already had such a cylinder on it and let me tell you letting a little blow do the work beats the hell out of pumping it a thousand damn times to get it up.

^^^THIS! I also went with the HF air-over-hydraulic when I needed a replacement. You can stand to the side and watch for that last wire or tube you didn't disconnect while the hoist slowly lifts the engine.

 

[22george]

Yes, definitely air over hydraulic. also for 20 ton press