Abstract: A die cylinder assembly is designed for use in an environment which has contaminants outside the assembly. The die cylinder assembly includes a piston disposed in a cylinder and having an outer end surface. The piston is moved in one direction by forces applied to the outer end surface of the piston. The piston is moved in an opposite direction by a working fluid pressure in a head end chamber of the cylinder. The cylinder includes a rod end variable volume chamber which is connected in fluid communication, through a first passage in the piston rod, with a third chamber located in the piston rod. The fluid pressure in the rod end chamber is always maintained at least as great as ambient fluid pressure to prevent contaminants from entering the rod end chamber. A check valve in a second passage admits outside air to the third chamber when fluid pressure in the third chamber drops below ambient pressure. A relief valve vents the third chamber if fluid pressure therein becomes too high.