Making Hydraulic Cylinders And Pump

[AndyStobbs]

I say go for it, would be keen to see how you get on. I plan to make the hydraulic ram for my press, owing to sheer size and some unusual features I wish to incorporate.
I think it is a bit more than the cost of 4 o rings. You need wiper seals, back up rings, some form of end bushing to save the ram rod being scuffed up due to side loads. Good surface finish and roundness along the cylinder inside face.
Have a bash though.

 

[Rocketman]

If you were considering making a true hydraulic cylinder I would advise against it, they are pretty precision things. It's not something you just guestimate you should be working out the size of the parts/materials.

Sounds like it would be better adapting some kind of jack like others have suggested.

 

[the snooper]

think I would be using the ram and pump of a trolly jack to operate a cam lift system

 

[Fintray]

Rather than faff about with hydraulics why not make a bar about 2m long with a couple of heavy duty castors either side at one end and a towball socket fitted at a suitable angle (that allows you to slip the towball under a corresponding connection point on the machine) and lever the machine up. Still need to wind down 2 of your existing castors though.