Air-O-Matic rebuild help

[MarkP]

Has anyone every rebuilt the air cylinder on an Air-O-Matic steering system? I need to replace the rubber piston cup in the cylinder so the system will work. I have unmounted the piston end from the tie rod and removed the snap ring that holds the cylinder head in. I can get the cylinder head to pull out till it is flush with the cylinder body but can't for the life of me get it to come out any further. I can rotate the cylinder head freely and can push it back into the cylinder body about 1/8" inch then pull it back out but again, can't get it to come out any further than flush with the cylinder body. Help! There's got to be a trick to this I'm missing. Anyone know how to get these things apart so I can replace the piston cup?

thanks!

Mark

 

[WillWagner]

Sorry man, no clue on how to take it apart and, to my knowledge, it hasn't been discussed here yet. You might just be the first one to tackle this project. Take some pics and post 'em up. There might be people here that can finger it out by looking at it. Welcome to SS, sorry I couldn't be of any help
If it helps, I'm looking at a used set up that doesn't belong to a deuce and am hoping to adapt it to my pig. Any pics will be useful.

 

[aboonski]

I replaced the rubber O-ring piston in my unit and had similar problems. I think I cranked up the truck and built up the air enough to use air pressure to force the piston out by turning the steering wheel but not sure if that is the proper way to do it. It worked for me! You might try to get in touch with the guy who sells the parts to see what he recommends.

Al Broadbent

 

[Stretch44875]

Is there a ring of rust/crud at the end of the cylinder bore? Sometimes have to push the rod down, and clean up the cylinder. This is just from rebuilding other cylinders, haven't taken a steering one apart.

Dennis

 

[nk14zp]

Stretch beat me to it it's either that or its catching in the snapring grove.

 

[sermis]

Check with M35Products who sells the units. I think you can get a replacement part for them now.

 

[jatonka]

You can reach Arthur P Bloom of www.m35products.com at (631) 749 0100 to talk to him about disassembling the air-o-matic air cylinder. He also sells the new O-ring for that repair. It is common to use air to push the various hraulic and air cylinders apart, but you should be experienced at it or do it outdoors with the cylinder well anchored and NOTHING in the flight path. I know this since blowing a 40 ton telescopic dump truck cylinder apart to re-pack it. Wow. JT out

 

[rolling18]

Has anyone every rebuilt the air cylinder on an Air-O-Matic steering system? I need to replace the rubber piston cup in the cylinder so the system will work. I have unmounted the piston end from the tie rod and removed the snap ring that holds the cylinder head in. I can get the cylinder head to pull out till it is flush with the cylinder body but can't for the life of me get it to come out any further. I can rotate the cylinder head freely and can push it back into the cylinder body about 1/8" inch then pull it back out but again, can't get it to come out any further than flush with the cylinder body. Help! There's got to be a trick to this I'm missing. Anyone know how to get these things apart so I can replace the piston cup?

thanks!

Mark

back from the dead and needing help!
i very slightly bent my piston a tiny bit.. so i cant get it to move at all!! it is off the truck and airlines removed...
after removing the snap ring, how do you get it apart? everything is still very tight and sealed. do you have any pics?

I dont know what year the kit is from. but the cylinder is welded on one end and maybe pressed? on the other...
cant afford to get a "new" one
thanks