Hydraulic cylinder rebuild
Boom lift cylinders, outriggers, extension and jib cylinders off every make of truck crane, rebuilt on the bench in Kenner and pressure tested before they go back on.
Call (504) 385-9868Cylinders are where boom truck hydraulics die first in south Louisiana. The rod is the only part of the sealed system that lives outside in our air, and between the humidity, the salt drift near the river, and pressure washing, chrome pits fast here. Every pit becomes a sharp lip that chews seal packing on each stroke. That is why a Boomworks Hydraulics rebuild starts with the rod under a light before anyone opens a seal kit.
A standard reseal runs $800 to $1,500: cylinder pulled, torn down, bore inspected and honed as needed, new seals throughout, reassembled and proven against pressure. If teardown shows rod pitting, scoring, or a bent rod, we photograph it and quote the additional work before touching it, typically landing the job between $1,500 and $3,500 with rod repair included. The cost guide breaks down every driver.
Outrigger cylinders get special attention because the whole truck stands on them. A bypassing outrigger lets the machine settle mid pick. We test holding valves together with the cylinder so the pair goes back on the truck proven, and on machines that work soft ground (the Marrero batture yards know this story) we also check for side loading damage from sunken pads.
What the bench does that a seal kit cannot
- Rod measured and inspected under light for pitting and scoring, then checked straight.
- Bore honed and measured against the spec sheet.
- Seals matched by dimension and duty, including upgraded compounds for heavy pick machines.
- Gland threads and piston hardware inspected, the parts that fail loudly later.
- Assembled cylinder pressure tested and leak down verified before reinstallation.
Cylinder questions
How do I know if my boom cylinder needs a reseal or a full rebuild?
Oil on the rod or gland with normal function means seals, which is a reseal. Drift under load, spongy control, or visible rod damage means we measure everything, which is rebuild territory. The honest answer comes at teardown, and we photograph what we find before quoting past the reseal.
Can a bent cylinder rod be straightened?
Mildly bent rods on short cylinders sometimes press straight and stay straight. Long stroke boom extension rods usually do not, because the bend returns under load. When straightening is a gamble we say so and price new rod stock next to it.
Do you keep the cylinder or work on the truck?
The cylinder comes to the bench in Kenner. We pull it at your yard or you drop it off, then it is honed and resealed, then pressure tested before reinstallation. One to three business days for most, plus plating time if the rod needs chrome.