Cylinder ram rechroming?

[hotponyshoes]

Is there anywhere doing cylinder rod rechroming?

Is it worth doing or just cheaper/easier/better just to source a bit of chromed rod the right size and replace?

Farmer is telling me its some sort of special ram and the delivery time for a new one is too long...
I've not seen it yet so it might well be possible to source an equivalent aftermarket..

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I've never quite understood rechroming, surely you have to remove some material from the rod, therefor making the rod smaller and meaning the seals don't seals well?

 

[Agroshield]

These people do a lot of motorbike forks and mention cylinders:

Hard Chrome Plating - Hard Chromium Platers - Functional Chrome Platers

AM Philpot (Hard Chrome) Ltd undertake hard chrome plating otherwise known as functional chrome plating.

www.amphardchrome.co.uk

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've never quite understood rechroming, surely you have to remove some material from the rod, therefor making the rod smaller and meaning the seals don't seals well?

This one has a 9" grinder scar across it.
He's expecting me to build that back up with tig.
I'd guess the remaining chrome would get removed chemically, the weld machined/ground flush, then rechromed to the original size.
Or they chrome over thickness then re-grind down to size?

If I find somewhere I'll ask them if they want to weld it as well!

 

[Parm]

I’ve seeen this done in the aerospace refurb sector, they always remove chrome first, dress the job, re chrome, then grind to toleranc, leaving a factory spec part

im guessing it will be quite expensive

 

[Barking Mat]

My mate chromes steel rods, for hydraulic rams etc.

Would have thought more economical to buy new then attempt a repair.

 

[hotponyshoes]

These people do a lot of motorbike forks and mention cylinders:

Hard Chrome Plating - Hard Chromium Platers - Functional Chrome Platers

AM Philpot (Hard Chrome) Ltd undertake hard chrome plating otherwise known as functional chrome plating.

www.amphardchrome.co.uk

That website looks like a proper old-school place that's done it all before!
I'll give them a ring on Monday!

 

[m_c]

You'll probably be able to get a new custom cylinder cheaper/quicker than getting one rechromed.

 

[DaveB]

Is it really chromed ?

I'd suspect most plant cylinders are just a corrosion resisting steel with good wear properties.

I've just had some cylinders rebuilt which include chroming, but new items are newly £20K each and rather specialist.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I’ve seeen this done in the aerospace refurb sector, they always remove chrome first, dress the job, re chrome, then grind to toleranc, leaving a factory spec part

im guessing it will be quite expensive

That's what I'm thinking!
Especially i need to get the chrome removed, Weld it, get it ground, hope the weld is good, get it chromed...

 

[hotponyshoes]

Is it really chromed ?

I'd suspect most plant cylinders are just a corrosion resisting steel with good wear properties.

I've just had some cylinders rebuilt which include chroming, but new items are newly £20K each and rather specialist.

Good point, I don't know?
I'll have a look over the weekend.

 

[Agroshield]

If you had a picture of the old one, maybe we could assess the work required. The end that pokes out is generally easy - cut the eye off the old one and weld back on. The inside, seal end is more challenging.

AM Philpott are not cheap.

There's lots of hydraulic ram repair people. Apex Hydraulics do a free assessment. These people are localish to your location: https://www.ramremanhydraulics.co.uk/

 

[Brad93]

That website looks like a proper old-school place that's done it all before!
I'll give them a ring on Monday!

make sure you're seated. last time i heard my
mate having a set of
forks chromed it was getting
on for £500

 

[hotponyshoes]

make sure you're seated. last time i heard my
mate having a set of
forks chromed it was getting
on for £500

This is a farmer.
He'll just buy a new machine for £50k rather than spend £500 on a part!!

To be fair, he's usually pretty good, he's been onto the dealer but it's got a long lead time and he wants to use the machine..

I don't even know what it's on, I'll have a look at it over the weekend

 

[Gareth J]

If you can get the ram drawn up, compare to the price from a hydraulic ram builders. Have used Interfluid in Cornwall, though am sure more local ones exist. They'll build a reproduction from parts.

As a comparison, they built a ram with ~2" rod, ~750mm throw and a ~5" cylinder with swivelly eyes both ends for ~£600 +vat ~5 years ago.

 

[awemawson]

Generally it’s cheaper to buy hard chromed ram rod stock and machine the ends to suit.

 

[Brad93]

This is a farmer.
He'll just buy a new machine for £50k rather than spend £500 on a part!!

To be fair, he's usually pretty good, he's been onto the dealer but it's got a long lead time and he wants to use the machine..

I don't even know what it's on, I'll have a look at it over the weekend

Speak to a good hydraulic cylinder firm. They'll make one far cheaper than rechroming

 

[chrismac]

I agree with brad, I made new chrome rods for my tractor loader, the cost buttons considering the cost of rams,

 

[jonclancy]

I got a quote for Fescolising the tube for my Super 8. Worked out around £100 per foot. Might well have been Philpot’s. Would have been a proper job done. Found a half-decent replacement on the Bay, but their work looks first-class.

 

[pressbrake1]

I make hydraulic rams, well I used to a few years back as I avoid it these days
I’ve only ever had rams re chromed because the size of material makes it viable
The last one was for a big compactor and weighed 8tonnes . A firm up in the midlands does it , can’t remember the name
Chrome rod isn’t as cheap as it was unfortunately
For get out of jail jobs I’ve welded the damage then dressed in