leaking hydralic cylinder

[RJ IN WYO]

have a jd 260 loader and lift cylinders are leaking any advice on changing seals to make job easier i would appreciate. my main concern is removing the large lock rings on the end. i brought a pair of flat nose lock ring pliers but they dont look big enough. so any help on how to remove them would sure help. thanks rj in wyo
 

[old]

I learned a long time ago that I could rebuild a cylinder my self and maybe get it right or take it to a hyd shop and have it done right. I also learned most of the time that toe cost at the hyd shop was not much if any more and some times a whole lot cheaper then me doing it my self. Had a set of cylinders on a Bobcat skid steer that we tried to do 2 times and both times did not work. Cost for parts where over $50. Took them to a hyd shop and they did them and cost $20 and they still do not leak and that was 10 years ago. Parts Bobcat sent us where wrong by the way but we had to eat the cost also
 

[tim s]

Some of those cylinders have a bit of a trick to them,,it may be better to remove it and take it to the local Hydraulic shop.The most common ones you need to remove the outer snap ring, then drive the cap into the cylinder bore to expose an inner snap ring then pull the rod and end cap out of the cylinder,,and then there are some that a special insert is needed to keep the inner snap ring from re-latching into the groove.