Thanks for the response guys.
The free lift cylinder raises about 2 in. before side cylinders take over.
I hadn't really thought about the cushioning valve but I suspect that's the problem, it has probably fell out of the ram and is laying in bottom of the casing in many pieces. I'll order a new pack kit w/ valve and install it next week.
Again.......Thank you!
the lift cylinders are "single acting" meaning they only push up, not down, and if oil somehow bypasses the seal in the cylinder rod's piston, then the oil on the top side of the cylinder has to be forced back to the correct side of the seal.
If you lift this unit it's full and complete stroke, and then lower, does it do the same thing on the next stroke?
You may have a 'cushioning valve' in the very bottom of the rod that has gone bad, so you will need to repack the center lift cylinder, complete (not just the gland nut) and replace the cushioning valve and o-ring in the bottom of the rod
It sounds like the center cylinder is sticking. It could also be a restricted hose or any other valves connected to the cylinder. Does the center cylinder move at all? You may want to check the pressure and flow going to it first.