A telescoping hydraulic cylinder is the best choice when there is a considerable distance to the movement of the load. As the cylinder telescopes, it can be extended much further than a standard rod cylinder without requiring additional length for the overall cylinder housing.
Correctly operating equipment that uses a hydraulic telescoping cylinder will be important. This will extend the life of the cylinder as well as to prevent damage to the telescoping rods, which can easily happen with specific operating bad habits.
Avoid Moving While Extended
There are many different uses for a hydraulic telescoping cylinder including on dump trucks, lifting equipment and any number of applications. When the telescoping cylinder is extended, particularly on mobile equipment or vehicles, it is very important to avoid driving the equipment.
The problem with driving while the cylinder is extended is the movement of the load, even if the load is just the equipment itself. This puts additional back and forth and side to side forces on the rod, which can lead to bending.
While this may be minimal with each event, over time, it will create problems with the cylinder retracting and extending, leading to wear and tear on components and the need for costly repairs.
Operating Too Hot
When the hydraulic telescoping cylinder is in continual use, it is possible for the hydraulic system to become too hot for the hydraulic fluid to correctly lubricate and protect the system.
The hotter the temperature, the less viscous the fluid will become. Ensuring the correct type of hydraulic fluid is in the system will be critical to match the working conditions and the ambient temperature, all which will have an impact on how effective the hydraulic fluid performs.
Make sure to also consider the rated capacity of the cylinder and to avoid going over the maximum load capacity. This is one of the biggest issues with cylinder failure while also being the one that is easiest to control.
