21E104 - Hydraulic Cylinder Failure - Marathon Telescoping Dump Cylinders

December 23, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21E104000

Cylinder detachment can contact the cab and cause a loss of control of the dump body, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21E104

Manufacturer Crysteel Manufacturing Inc

Components EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected 261

Summary

Crysteel Manufacturing Inc. (Crysteel) is recalling certain Marathon Telescoping Dump Cylinders with a Black Armor finish. The telescopic-style hydraulic cylinder may fail and detach from the hoist cradle.

Remedy

Crysteel will replace the cylinder, free of charge. Distributors were notified January 31, 2022. Owners may contact Crysteel customer service at 507-519-2933.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

This notice applies to your vehicle

January 31, 2022

Customer name
Customer Address 1
Customer Address 2

Dear Crysteel Customer:

Included with this letter, you will find a NHTSA official recall letter concerning certain Crysteel Marathon trunnion mounted telescopic dump cylinders finished with a Black Armor nitrocarburized anti-corrosion surface treatment which has been sold to you between January, 2020 through October, 2021.

The NHTSA number for this campaign is: 21E-104.

Also included is a listing of the Sales Orders that are relevant to the cylinders which were sold to you by Crysteel.

What you must do is forward the included letter to your customer to notify them of this situation, within 5 days of the receipt of this letter. Pursuant to NHTSA guidelines, please use the envelopes included with this letter to send the recall letters to your end-user customers. We will then work with you to schedule when we will have replacement cylinders available to replace your customers’ cylinder(s). In spite of current supply chain shortage issues, we are doing all we can to expedite this process.

Crysteel will notify you when a replacement cylinder is available. You can then schedule when to perform the Removal & Replacement of the existing cylinder, which you will then return to Crysteel as a core exchange. Crysteel will reimburse your removal & replacement labor costs for up to $500 for this effort.

Important: It is a violation of Federal Law for a dealer or distributor to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment covered by the notification under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied.

Crysteel recognizes that this is a very difficult situation and we thank you for working with us to resolve it on behalf of your customers. Please contact us at any time if you have questions or concerns related to this matter.

Sincerely,

Don Gorny, Product Manager
Crysteel Manufacturing, Inc

SERVICE BULLETIN

Date: 11/24/2021

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN FRONT TELESCOPICHOIST CYLINDERS SOLD BY CRYSTEEL OR INCORPORATED INTO TRUCK BODIESSOLD BY CRYSTEEL

Subject: Crysteel Marathon telescoping hoist cylinder manufactured by Hyco Alabama, LLC.

Description: Some Hyco cylinders featuring the Black Armor finish produced in 2020 – 2021 have experienced rod end failures at the attaching pin in the chassis hoist cradle. Failure as shown below can result in vehicle damage and / or personal injury to those in or around the truck.

Action to be taken: If you have a hoist cylinder produced during 2020-2021 featuring the Black Armor finish (cylinder stages will be dark-colored rather than chrome-finished), inspect for potential failure of the Marathon hoist cylinder lower end pin mount. See below for further details.

Read this entire bulletin prior to inspecting your truck per the instructions below.

Contact Information:

Crysteel Warranty and Service Phone: 507-726-4335

Crysteel Warranty and Service Email: [email protected]

Frequency:

Daily prior to the start of operation.

Location:

Marathon cylinder attachment to the chassis hoist cradle pin. See images below illustrating the location to check.

Location of the hoist cylinder cradle mount pin when viewed from the driver’s side of the work truck.

Rod end of cylinder positioned inside the hoist cradle on the truck chassis.

Rod end of cylinder shown with example of indication of potential failure zone.

Rod end of cylinder shown with example of indication of potential failure zone when viewed from underside of truck hoist chassis cradle. Actual instances of failure may vary.

Reason for Inspection and Inspection Process:

Crysteel has received a small number of reports which indicate that “Black Armor” model cylinders supplied to it by Hyco Alabama, LLC during 2020 and 2021 and sold by Crysteel have experienced cracks at the surface of the cylinder rod around the area of the cradle attaching pin. These cracks reportedly have led to cylinder failures. If a cylinder fails, it may create a risk of serious bodily injury and/or damage to truck bodies. Black Armor cylinders can be identified visually as the cylinder stages will be dark-colored rather than chrome-finished. This notice does not apply to chromed cylinders sold by Crysteel.

Crysteel recommends visually inspecting all hoists daily in trucks equipped with Black Armor model cylinders, prior to the start of operation. Specifically, the cylinder rod at the pin connection should be inspected carefully to note if there are any cracks observed in the area shown. Stress and fatigue can manifest itself in the form of cracking in the rod area surrounding the cradle pin. The inspector should inspect for any evidence of cracking or separation occurring in or around the pinned connection of the cylinder rod. If any sign of cracking or fatigue is found in the cylinder rod, or any other unusual signs of potential issues at the cylinder pin location, do not operate the vehicle and contact Crysteel Mfg Warranty for further information.

Caution: Be sure to inspect the rod end with the body in the LOWERED position, PRIOR to starting the truck.

Inspectors should not raise the truck body while conducting this inspection, but should conduct the inspection from the underside of the truck hoist chassis cradle. Follow all appropriate safety precautions in conducting this inspection.

Crysteel and Hyco are currently investigating this issue and whether further action may be necessary.

Arrow shown above is pointing to where you will find the Cylinder Part and Serial Number

2250435	2250439	2250443	2250447
2250436	2250440	2250444	2250448
2250437	2250441	2250445	2254179
2250438	2250442	2250446	2254180

SERVICE BULLETIN

Date: 11/30/2021

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN FRONT TELESCOPIC HOIST CYLINDERS SOLD BY J-CRAFT, INC. OR INCORPORATED INTO TRUCK BODIES SOLD BY J-CRAFT, INC.

Subject: J-Craft Marathon telescoping hoist cylinder manufactured by Hyco Alabama, LLC.

Read this entire bulletin prior to inspecting your truck per the instructions below.

Contact Information:

J-Craft Warranty and Service Phone: 507-726-4335

J-Craft Warranty and Service Email: [email protected]

Frequency:

Daily prior to the start of operation.

Location:

Marathon cylinder attachment to the chassis hoist cradle pin. See images below illustrating the location to check.

Location of the hoist cylinder cradle mount pin when viewed from the driver’s side of the work truck.

Rod end of cylinder positioned inside the hoist cradle on the truck chassis.

Rod end of cylinder shown with example of indication of potential failure zone.

Rod end of cylinder shown with example of indication of potential failure zone when viewed from underside of truck hoist chassis cradle. Actual instances of failure may vary.

Reason for Inspection and Inspection Process:

J-Craft, Inc. has received a small number of reports which indicate that “Black Armor” model cylinders supplied to it by Hyco Alabama, LLC during 2020 and 2021 and sold by J-Craft have experienced cracks at the surface of the cylinder rod around the area of the cradle attaching pin. These cracks reportedly have led to cylinder failures. If a cylinder fails, it may create a risk of serious bodily injury and/or damage to truck bodies. Black Armor cylinders can be identified visually as the cylinder stages will be dark-colored rather than chrome-finished. This notice does not apply to chromed cylinders sold by J-Craft.

J-Craft recommends visually inspecting all hoists daily in trucks equipped with Black Armor model cylinders, prior to the start of operation. Specifically, the cylinder rod at the pin connection should be inspected carefully to note if there are any cracks observed in the area shown. Stress and fatigue can manifest itself in the form of cracking in the rod area surrounding the cradle pin. The inspector should inspect for any evidence of cracking or separation occurring in or around the pinned connection of the cylinder rod. If any sign of cracking or fatigue is found in the cylinder rod, or any other unusual signs of potential issues at the cylinder pin location, do not operate the vehicle and contact J-Craft Warranty for further information.

Caution: Be sure to inspect the rod end with the body in the LOWERED position, PRIOR to starting the truck.

J-Craft and Hyco are currently investigating this issue and whether further action may be necessary.

Arrow shown above is pointing to where you will find the Cylinder Part and Serial Number