There is another way. You can't get at the top of the piston w/o taking the seat apart, unless you are willing to go another route. Take the upolstery up on the back and use a hole saw to get through the back of the seat. Then do the piston work, and epoxy the piece you cut out back in. It's in a non load bearing part of the seat so it's not a big deal structurally, and you'll never see it since it is under the upolstery. Much easier and faster than taking the bolster out. Plus I hate trying to squeeze into the storage compartments on the sides to get the bolster bolts out.

My friend sent one of his pistons out to Crane and it took about a month to get it back. It cost around $120.00 to get it fixed.

I replaced my port side last weekend, it took me 15 min. its a mecloud seat and the accuator manufacter is acculift inc. they where great and helped me out, mine new shipped with new motor and accuator was 360.00, the new one is very quite., oh formula wanted to charge me over 1000.00 just for the accuater. 1998 312

hmmm.... wonder if you could retro fit the Mcloed's on a 311 ??

Back to the top again...
I have no idea why I didn't think of this earlier, but I've got a bunch of pilot friends. I'm going to ask around and see if I can make friends with some local A&Ps and see if anyone can service these/offer (used) parts locally. I've already found a few places around the country that offer rebuild of the cylinders; just an alternative to sending back to the manufacturer.
Crane/PL Porter offer an electric device also I think...hmmm...wonder if it would be an easy bolt-in?

Any ideas of what to do with one of these now in 2011???

Baja,
There was a thread here about replacing the hydroloks with electric actuators. I need to do this as well. Mine are shot! My plan is to do it next fall. Who knows though?

Yeah....saw it. Nobody actually ever said how it worked out. And the company in this post does not do anything with these......I am at a loss. Tried Formula...they said "sorry...can't help"

I will e-mail you some info that I have.

Nobody else has thisissue or any idea of what to do about it????