[FlyFishDive]

Has anyone replaced the seals in their SeaStar hydraulic cylinder.

Is it easy enough and worth while or is a new cylinder in order?

Thanks,

 

[Aquarius]

I replaced the seals on my Hynautic cylinder several years ago. I believe Hynautic and Seastar are both owned be Telex now.

Replacement is a lot cheaper than a new cylinder. You will need a good strong vise to hold things while you are working. Care must be taken not score the ram or it will never seal. You cannot place the cylinder in a vise, but rather the end caps, least you crush the cylinder and the whole thing will now be useless. It was not the most difficult repair I have done, but not a job for a beginner either.

Good luck.

 

[chinacat]

DO A SEARCH

I went through this exact same thing fall '06 and there was a thread with some good info in it!

 

[MakoMike]

If its the inboard cylinder you need a special wrench to get it open. Check the sea star website, the complete manuals are there. Its not that difficult but it isn't the easiest job in the world either. If the shaft is corroded replacing the seals will be a very short term fix, as the shaft corrosion will ruin them in short order.
You also need to make sure that your shaft is still straight.

 

[FlyFishDive]

Thanks for the replies. I just wanted to see if there were any lessons learned before I dig in.

I have been on their website but it isn't the friendliest. I haven't been able to get the schematics to open yet nor have I seen replacement seals called out. I am going to give the local dealer a call and see what the availability of new seals are.

Not sure why it's leaking, shaft is in good shape. I think there may have been an excessive angle on the cylinder maybe that finally wore the seal out. Looks like a pin spanner will get the end cap off.

Thanks,

 

[gonefission]

I just did this same job, the hardest part was loosening up the brackets from the motor to get the seals off each end. The rebuild kit comes with the proper tool to take the caps off, and it is literally one o-ring on each side that creates the seal.
The kit is ridiculously overpriced (I think almost 100$) and it has two new end caps, a cheap metal tool to take the caps off, and 6 o-rings.
You may be able to get away with opening it up and replacing the O-rings on the caps in lieu of a new kit, but I dont know if you need o-rings made of a special type of plastic or something, but there was almost nothing to the kit.

 

[FlyFishDive]

I spoke with them and found they sell a seal kit(HC5154), for the HC5312 cyclinder and several others, that goes for around $30-40 depending on where purchased. I doubt it comes with the tools your kit did though for that price.

I imagine a hydraulic oil resistent o-ring would be sufficient. For $30 bucks I'll get their o-ring, but if it were a $100 or so maybe I would just get individual o-ring on my own from Mcmaster-Carr or the like.