I bought a couple of pneumatic cylinders to drive 2 switches this year. Bottom line is they work great. But I can just see water getting into them this winter and boom that will be it. These are the ones sold by SVRR. Has anyone dealt with this snow/ice/rain issue?
Thanks 
Larry
When I used them, I always made sure I had the drier on the airline when they were in use.
I never had any water in any of the airlines. If you did not have a drier, I would take them in
and clean them so if there is any, it won’t freeze and crack the cylinders. Also blow the lines
out with dry air. I you could put a very small amount of alcohol in the lines and that should
keep any water from freezing also.
Rodney
Rodney,
I’m more concerned with rain water getting into the cylinder at the rod end. It does not look like there’s any kind of sealing ring or gasket there.
Good questions – any response from the mfg. to the same concerns?
I use the formerly available EZ Air pneumatics for most of my turnouts, with only a couple operated by local hand throws. The pneumatics have been in the great outdoors for years without any hint of problems, including leaks in or out. We don’t nave any significant snow, but do have occasional overnight lows down into the low 20s, and an average yearly rainfall of ~60". My pneumatics are exposed to lots of water.
The nose of the cylinder has an internal o-ring seal that prevents both air from leaking out and water from leaking in. The cylinder rod is stainless steel and the cylinder is brass. Neither material is sensitive to rust or corrosion from the elements.
By way of comparison, the LGB electric switch machines I originally used all failed within the first year. No amount of maintenance, including various sealing strategies, was successful in keeping them operational.
Hope this helps.
Happy RRing,
Jerry
Wendell …The mfg was no help.
Jerry, Occasional overnight lows in the 20s is not the same as a winter in the NE. IF the ground here would freeze and stay that way it would not be a problem. It’s the freeze thaw cycle that lets snow melt get into stuff… oh well
Guess I’ll have to figure something out
Check with TOC. He has some pneumatics on his layout where it rains, freezes, snows and occasionally, the sun shines.
I would think that it would be hard for water to work in, but if you left pressure applied, then the piston would be closest to the seal, and no room for water to work in.
I really do not think you have anything to worry about, but I guess time will tell.
Regards, Greg
Larry
I agree with Greg. If yours is like the ones I had, one side is the cylinder for air and the other side has a spring.
The spring end is the end with throw rod. Even if there is no O ring on the rod, the fit should be tight enough to
keep any water out of it.
Rodney