Marine cylinders play a key role in hydraulic systems and are widely used in ship steering gears, cranes, hatches and other regulating equipment. The piston of the cylinder is one of its core components, which realizes mechanical action through the push of hydraulic oil. Piston jamming is one of the common faults of hydraulic cylinders, which will cause the cylinder to fail to work properly. In severe cases, it may cause hydraulic system failure or even equipment shutdown. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and eliminate the problem of piston jamming in a timely manner.

1. Common causes of marine cylinder piston jamming
Cylinder internal contaminants
Cause analysis: Hydraulic oil contains contaminants such as impurities, particles or moisture, which may be deposited in the cylinder and accumulate on the piston or cylinder surface, causing the piston movement to be blocked. These contaminants increase friction and cause piston jamming.
Solution:
Replace the hydraulic oil regularly to keep the oil clean.
Configure an oil filtration system to prevent impurities from entering the system.
Install a hydraulic oil filter and clean and replace the filter regularly.
Wear or scratches on the surface of the cylinder
Cause analysis: If the piston rod, cylinder surface or piston surface in the cylinder is worn, scratched or pitted, it may affect the normal movement of the piston and cause it to get stuck. The increase in friction will also aggravate the wear and form a vicious cycle.
Solution:
The manufacturer of engineering cylinders regularly checks the surface condition of the piston rod, cylinder body and piston of the cylinder. If wear or scratches are found, they should be repaired in time.
If the cylinder is seriously damaged, consider replacing the damaged parts to avoid further damage to the system.
Damage or aging of seals
Cause analysis: Seals are key components to prevent hydraulic oil leakage and ensure the normal operation of the cylinder. If the seals are aged, hardened or damaged, it may cause poor sealing, oil leakage or gas entering the system, affecting the normal movement of the cylinder, and then causing the piston to get stuck.
Solution:
Check and replace seals regularly to ensure that they maintain good elasticity and sealing performance.
Select sealing materials that adapt to environmental conditions, such as high temperature and high pressure conditions, using high temperature and wear resistant seals.

Hydraulic oil pollution or quality problems
Cause analysis: Using low-quality or contaminated hydraulic oil will lead to poor lubrication in the cylinder, increase friction, and even cause the piston to jam. In addition, moisture and impurities in the oil will also cause damage to the seals, which will affect the performance of the cylinder.
Solution:
Replace the hydraulic oil regularly and make sure to use hydraulic oil that meets the standards.
Install a hydraulic oil filtration system to keep the oil clean and prevent moisture and impurities from entering the system.
Regularly test the quality of the oil, such as viscosity, acidity, and moisture content, to ensure that the oil meets the equipment requirements.
Unstable hydraulic system pressure
Cause analysis: If the working pressure of the hydraulic system is too high or too low, it may cause the cylinder to work unstably, increase the load on the piston, and even cause jamming. Pressure fluctuations can cause poor flow of hydraulic oil in the cylinder and affect piston movement.
Solution:
Engineering cylinder manufacturers regularly check the pressure of the hydraulic system to ensure that it is within the design range.
Check key components such as pressure valves and relief valves to ensure that they work properly and prevent abnormal system pressure.
Temperature is too high or too low
Cause analysis: Too high temperature will cause the viscosity of hydraulic oil to decrease, resulting in poor lubrication effect, increased friction and wear, and may eventually cause piston jamming; while too low temperature will increase the viscosity of hydraulic oil, resulting in poor fluidity, and may also cause jamming.
Solution:
Ensure that the operating temperature of the hydraulic system is within the applicable range of the hydraulic oil, and install a suitable cooling system to reduce the system temperature.
When working in a cold environment, use hydraulic oil with good low-temperature fluidity and ensure that the viscosity of the hydraulic oil is appropriate.
Cylinder installation problem
Cause analysis: Improper installation of the cylinder, such as cylinder misalignment, uneven support or eccentric load, may cause non-axial force on the piston rod and cylinder barrel, causing piston jamming.
Solution:
Ensure that the cylinder is correctly centered during installation to avoid eccentric load or uneven support.
Check the installation status of the cylinder regularly to ensure that there is no jamming caused by installation problems.

2. Treatment methods for piston jamming
Cleaning and replacing hydraulic oil
Clean the hydraulic system, remove impurities, dirt and moisture in the oil, and ensure that the hydraulic oil in the system maintains good fluidity and lubricity.
If the hydraulic oil is seriously contaminated or the quality does not meet the requirements, the hydraulic oil should be replaced in time and the necessary system cleaning should be carried out.
Check and repair the cylinder parts
Disassemble the cylinder and check the surface of the piston rod, cylinder barrel and piston. If scratches, wear or damage are found, they should be repaired or replaced.
For parts with severe wear, replace new parts to avoid further damage to the system.
Replace seals
Check the status of the seals regularly to ensure that there is no aging, hardening or damage. If problems are found, replace the seals in time to maintain the sealing and normal operation of the cylinder.
Check the hydraulic system pressure
Use a pressure gauge to check the working pressure of the hydraulic system to ensure that the system pressure is stable and within the design range. Check whether the pressure valve and relief valve are working properly to prevent piston jamming caused by abnormal system pressure.
Temperature control and filtration system maintenance
Monitor the hydraulic oil temperature to ensure that the oil is within the temperature range. Use a cooling device to reduce the temperature if necessary.
Clean and replace the hydraulic oil filter regularly to keep the oil clean and prevent contaminants from entering the system.
Regular maintenance and inspection
Regularly check the seals, pistons, piston rods and other parts of the hydraulic system to ensure that there is no wear, damage or abnormality. Regular maintenance and inspection can effectively prevent the occurrence of jamming problems.

3. Summary
Marine cylinder piston jamming is a common fault in the hydraulic system, which may be caused by various factors such as internal contamination of the cylinder, surface wear, aging of seals, poor quality of hydraulic oil, unstable pressure, etc. In order to effectively avoid and solve this problem, hydraulic cylinder manufacturers must regularly check and maintain the hydraulic system, including cleaning hydraulic oil, replacing damaged parts, checking system pressure, and ensuring that the temperature control and filtration systems are working properly. By promptly discovering and solving problems, the service life of the cylinder can be increased, the normal operation of the ship's hydraulic system can be guaranteed, and the safe operation of the equipment can be ensured.