Do you run a business where you have several different types of hydraulic cylinder in use? If your answer is yes, then it is important to find a reliable supplier that gives you the best hydraulic cylinder parts for your machinery. You will need to establish a procedure for ensuring quality and engineering standards before contacting a supplier for getting hydraulic cylinder repair parts.

In this article we explain the steps you should take before approaching a business for your hydraulic repair and maintenance needs:

1) Understand Your Requirements

The first step is to collect all the information you can about the type of parts you need from a supplier. This includes noting down the specific part numbers (if you have them), dimensions, and serial numbers of the parts you currently use, as well as other useful information, such as load-bearing capacity.

Look at the supply requirements of your business. In what volumes do usually need to order parts, what is your budget and what turnaround time do you need? Do you need any additional services from a supplier, such as technical support? A brief look at your previous parts and repair needs will help you determine what prices, assurances and after sales support you will need from a supplier.

2) Check The Supplier’s Product Catalogue

Armed with a list of requirements, you can start looking around for suppliers. The critical question is whether a supplier’s product catalogue matches your needs. The larger a supplier’s stock of hydraulic cylinders and the more industrial sectors they serve, the better chance you have of being able to get quick access to the hydraulic spares you need, when you need them. A supplier should stock standard sizes for both single and double acting cylinders, for welded and tie rod models, as well as two, three and four stage pin mounted telescope cylinders. They should also stock various configurations of feet, flanges, trunnions, clevis and swivel bearing mountings.

Double check with your supplier that they can meet your quantity requirements for single or repeat orders, at a price you can afford.

3) Does The Supplier Manufacture Custom-Designed Cylinders?

Sometimes you will need a hydraulic cylinder spare part that isn’t covered in the product catalogue, which is where a supplier who is prepared to custom-design cylinders for you is a great benefit. The approach we take at Ranger Caradoc is not to propose particular products as the solution to your issue, but first take time to understand your requirements and design the appropriate response, in the most cost-effective way. Often your needs can be met by a product we already have in stock, but if necessary we can design you a bespoke cylinder of up to 200 mm bore and 3,500 mm stroke.

It is worth checking the willingness of a supplier to take a solution based approach to your needs, as this is not what all suppliers do. Some suppliers are simply resellers on behalf of other manufacturers. They provide a product catalogue as the solution, which their customers can either take or leave. This puts you in the position of either having to settle for nearly the right hydraulic cylinder, which is not advisable, or to shop around for a different supplier.

4) What Personalised Service Does The Supplier Offer?

When dealing with hydraulic cylinders, technical accuracy is vital. Some suppliers are little more than online stores, providing a means to purchase parts but nothing more. This is fine if you know exactly what you’re looking for, but in our experience there is sometimes a lot of ambiguity when looking for spare parts. At Ranger Caradoc we place great emphasis on pre-sales technical advice and after sales support. With 40 years in the business, our team have the experience to understand how your kit works. You can call us up and we will offer free, impartial advice to help you source the right spares, and will recommend parts to achieve your desired outcomes. You don’t need to have the exact part number to hand when you place an order.

A Reliable Source Of Hydraulic Cylinder Spare Parts

To find out more about buying hydraulic spares, including managing vendor relationships, custom components and inventory management, please download our free Buyers Guide To Hydraulic Cylinders by clicking here.