question on hyd cylinder linkage

I did not like that setup. The mower has the ability to swing back when it hits an obstruction and with the cylinder hooked up the way it was, I could see the cylinder shaft getting bent if the mower ever hit something and swung back. So I came up with a different linkage system using a one-way cylinder I have. Because of the offset in the linkage, the cylinder wanted to rub on that arm above the center of the cylinder. To prevent this I welded a piece of steel just above the yoke on the left end of the cylinder. My concern is that the linkage is putting a twisting force on the cylinder and will harm it in some way, what are your thoughts?

HTH

Areo

Replace the rear mount with a bracket that extends the cylinder farther rearward, so the front can be directly attached to the red front arm, or use a much shorter cylinder.

Hydraulic cylinders should be sized so that they are limited by their own stroke, not the equipment they attach to. If, as pictured, the cylinder can push twice as far as needed, and is not restricted in that direction by its own length, it will bend, or bend something else if you, or another operator, lifts too long on the lever.

A shorter single acting cylinder is a good answer.

It is going to cause problems the way it is, sorry. JimN