Hydraulic Cylinders – Piston Ø 50 mm

Light, fast, and precise. Hydraulic cylinders with a 50 mm piston diameter are compact solutions for auxiliary tasks. They generate a force of 3–5 tons, ensuring instant system response. Indispensable in power steering systems, controlling seeder markers, sprayers, and for opening hatches and chutes.
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Hydraulic cylinders Ø 50 mm – Dynamics and Functionality

In this category, we offer double-acting cylinders with a 50 mm internal diameter. These units are designed for applications where maximum force isn't required (as in loaders), but where speed , low component weight, and compact installation dimensions are key.

Strength and Speed

The 50-inch cylinder is an ideal compromise for smaller machines. Thanks to its small piston surface area (approximately 19.6 cm²), it requires very little oil to fully extend. This means that even with a weak hydraulic pump, the cylinder will operate very dynamically.

Strength parameters:

  • At a pressure of 160 bar : Extension force approx. 3.1 tons .
  • At a pressure of 200 bar : Extension force approx. 3.9 tons .
  • At a pressure of 250 bar : Extension force of nearly 4.9 tons .

Main applications

Where is the Ø 50 mm cylinder best suited?

  1. Power steering (Orbitrol): This is the standard size for steering cylinders in smaller tractors (e.g. C-330, T-25, small orchard tractors) and forklifts.
  2. Controlling agricultural implements: Unfolding sprayer lances, raising markers in seed drills, controlling coulter pressure.
  3. Automation: Opening sides, ventilation flaps, locking containers.
  4. Central Links (Turnbuckles): In lighter tractors, hydraulic linkages are often based on a 50 mm or 63 mm piston.

Construction

Despite their smaller size, our actuators maintain industrial quality:

  • Piston rod: Typically Ø 25 mm, Ø 28 mm or Ø 30 mm . Hardened and chrome-plated surface ensures resistance to weather conditions.
  • Mountings: The most common are self-aligning bearings (heads) or simple weld-in bushings, which allow for easy adaptation.
  • Seals: High-quality stuffing box seals (often polyurethane), resistant to leaks and contamination.

FAQ: Hydraulic Cylinders – Piston Ø 50 mm – Questions and Answers
1. What pressure force (load capacity) does a cylinder with a 50 mm piston diameter generate?

The force of a cylinder depends on the piston diameter and the operating pressure in the system. The working surface area of a 50 mm piston is approximately 19.6 cm².

  • At an operating pressure of 160 bar (common in older agricultural tractors, e.g., Ursus), this cylinder will generate an outward force of approximately 3.2 tonnes (3200 kg).
  • At an operating pressure of 200 bar, the pushing force increases to approximately 4 tonnes (4000 kg).
    The pulling force (when retracting the piston rod) will be slightly less, as the cross-sectional area of the rod itself must be subtracted from the piston area.
2. What machines are 50 mm piston cylinders most commonly used in?

A diameter of 50 mm is a very versatile size in light and medium-duty power hydraulics. The most common applications include:

  • Power steering systems in agricultural machinery and forklifts.
  • Smaller front loaders (Turs) – as bucket tilt cylinders.
  • Snow ploughs (mouldboard angle control).
  • Smaller log splitters (for home use) and workshop presses with a pressure of up to 4 tons.
3. Why do 50mm cylinders have different rod thicknesses?

The piston rod thickness (e.g., 25 mm or 28 mm) is crucial for the mechanical strength of the actuator, especially with long strokes.
A thicker piston rod is more resistant to so-called buckling (i.e., the bending of the rod under a large axial load). If you are building a machine where the actuator will be heavily loaded at maximum extension (e.g., a horizontal log splitter or a long crane arm), always choose the variant with the thickest available piston rod for the given cylinder diameter.
4. Can a 50mm double-acting cylinder work as a single-acting cylinder?

Yes, this is a very common practice in workshops. If your machine (e.g., a single-axle tipper) has a distributor only for single-acting cylinders, you can use a double-acting cylinder.
Connect the supply hose to the port responsible for extension, and screw a special breather plug with a sintered filter into the other port (responsible for retraction). This allows the cylinder to "breathe" and retract freely under its own weight, while protecting its interior from dirt.
5. How to correctly measure an old 50 mm cylinder to choose a replacement at BRhydraulic?

For us to perfectly match a replacement, we need 3 key dimensions:

  • Stroke (working range): Measure the difference between the fully retracted and fully extended cylinder (or simply the length of the shiny rod part at maximum extension).
  • Length when retracted: The distance measured from the very center of the bottom eye to the center of the top eye (pin) when the cylinder is 100% retracted.
  • Mounting diameter: Check the thickness of the pins (e.g., fi 25, fi 30) on which the cylinder is mounted in the machine.