How to: Measure a Hydraulic Cylinder

1. You will need

Tools such as tape measure and vernier callipers.

2. Retracted hydraulic cylinder length

When the cylinder is full retracted, (Closed Centres) measure from the centre of the rod pin to centre of the cylinder pin.

3. Extended hydraulic cylinder length

When the cylinder is fully extended, (Open Centres) measure from the centre of the rod pin to centre of the cylinder pin.

4. Stroke length

Measure the extended length of the hydraulic cylinder minus the retracted length.

5. Bore diameter

Measure the outside diameter of the cylinder and subtract the wall thickness of the tubing. Standard bore sizes range from 25mm to 125mm bore diameters.

6. Rod diameter

This measurement is mainly done with callipers.

7. Cylinder pin size

8. Rod mount pin size

9. Base and rod mount dimensions

10. Determine port size and style