Often taken for granted, mobile hydraulics are found in many different industrial applications. If not maintained or repaired properly, they can lead to uneconomical downtime. Read more in our third installment of our forklift series about the maintenance of forklift side shift cylinders and steering cylinders in forklift trucks with the following examples.

Maintenance of the Side Shift Cylinder

The side shift cylinder in a forklift moves the forks of the vehicle to better align them with the load to be carried. This allows the driver to make small lateral adjustments to the forks when approaching a pallet without having to reposition the entire vehicle. Thus, increasing maneuverability while saving time.

When one of these hydraulic cylinders needs to be repaired, we recommend a polyurethane primary seal, together with a high-strength nylon wear ring, and a polyurethane wiper seal or scraper for optimum performance. The rod seal Zurcon® U-Cup RU9, Orkot® Slydring® wear ring and Zurcon® Scraper DA24 combined are ideally suited to the duty cycle of the side shift cylinder.

Maintenance of the Steering Cylinder

Critical to the special maneuverability of the forklift, the steering cylinder is a double-acting piston that exerts equal pressure in opposite directions, turning the rear wheels to almost 90°. Without this feature, a forklift would essentially be non-functional, as it would lack the characteristic ability to turn within a very tight circle.

To ensure even deterioration and a long operating life for the seal, the rod should be guided by a wear ring different to those recommended for the other cylinder applications in these vehicles. Our suggested solution is a polyurethane wiper seal, a composite wear ring, and a polyurethane u-cup. This is because the composite wear ring is able to handle heavier loads and is more resistant to wear over time. A sealing solution composed of the Zurcon® Scraper DA24, the Himod® Slydring® and the Zurcon® L-Cup provides an optimal balance of performance and durability.

All of the above products are available in the Seals-Shop in many sizes. You will find other rod seals, wear rings and scrapers in different materials on the All Products Page and can filter your preferences. There you can also find many other categories of sealing solutions including repair kits.

Figures: Rod Seal Zurcon® U-Cup RU9, Wear Ring Orkot® Slydring®, Scraper Zurcon® DA24, Wear Ring Himod® Slydring® and Rod Seal Zurcon® L-Cup. Source: Seals-Shop

About Hydraulic Cylinders in Forklift Trucks

Hydraulic cylinders provide the power behind the moving parts of forklift trucks. These vehicles are important in a number of industries and especially useful in both manufacturing and warehousing, to get items in the right place at the right time.

While these tasks may be carried out in house by the forklift owner, the necessary replacement parts can’t be always kept in stock or are not immediately available. In Trelleborg Sealing Solutions online shop we offer proven high-quality replacement parts, ready for quick shipping and also available in smaller amounts, to keep your vehicles and other machines up and running. Visit Seals-Shop.in for more information or go to our product portfolio.

Please note, recommendations on application and system design are provided as suggestions only. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure safe and adequate performance in their own application. Seals-Shop or its supply partners cannot accept liability for the form, fit, or function sold through the Seals-Shop or consequential damages thereafter.
 

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