What are Some Common Hydraulic Equipment Repairs Operators Can Handle on the Jobsite?
Hydraulic equipment maintenance is essential for maximizing operating efficiency, reliability, safety and lifespan for all your hydraulic assets, and reducing the need or frequency for hydraulic equipment repairs. That’s particularly true for hydraulic pumps and hydraulic cylinders, but operators should be prepared to check every hydraulic accessory and component during routine, on-the-jobsite maintenance.
Fortunately, hydraulic equipment operators can perform many forms of routine maintenance on the jobsite with a bit of time and attention. Examples include:
- Checking hydraulic fluid levels and quality
- Inspecting hydraulic systems for any signs of leaks
- Verifying hydraulic system calibration and tightening hardware
- Checking hydraulic components for signs of excessive wear
- Cleaning hydraulic pumps, cylinders and lines regularly
- Following up with a hydraulic equipment expert if any troubling signs develop
If your hydraulic equipment operators commit to this level of maintenance on the jobsite, it will result in fewer breakdowns and better overall uptime, which means better overall profitability.
What Hydraulic Equipment Maintenance and Repairs Can Operators Perform on the Jobsite?
Most hydraulic equipment operators are comfortable performing basic repairs and maintenance, including:
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- Hydraulic fluid service – The most important and routine type of hydraulic equipment maintenance is fluid service. Hydraulic fluid is your system’s lifeblood, and it is imperative to keep contaminants out, both solids and water. Hydraulic fluid contamination is the number one cause of hydraulic pump and hydraulic cylinder failures, so maintaining adequate quality and quantity is essential.
Your hydraulic equipment operators can perform fluid service on the jobsite. This includes checking the hydraulic pump reservoir and verifying fluid level. It also includes flushing out old or contaminated hydraulic fluid and performing a full system flush if contamination is suspected. During a hydraulic fluid flush, the pump’s reservoir should be emptied, and your operators should clean the inside surfaces of the reservoir using an approved flushing solvent and a zero-residue cloth. Following the flush and cleaning, fill the hydraulic pump’s reservoir with clean hydraulic fluid to levels specified by the equipment manufacturer.
- Hydraulic component inspections and replacement – Your hydraulic equipment operators are the first line of defense against overly worn and ready to fail components. When your hydraulic systems are between cycles, it’s recommended that your operators inspect any high wear components and verify that they remain in good working order. This includes hydraulic hoses, manifolds, seals, fittings, valves and filters. Eventually, the system’s internal high-wear components such as gears and bearings will need to be inspected, but this may be beyond what your operators are comfortable with, and it may expose your hydraulic equipment to contaminants.
If any components are noticeably worn or if your hydraulic filters indicate that a switch out is needed, they should be replaced before they pose a reliability or safety hazard.
- Calibrating and testing hydraulic pumps and cylinders – Prior to every work cycle, your hydraulic equipment operators should ensure all system components are properly calibrated. Most of your operator’s focus should be on the hydraulic pump and its valve set, ensuring that it’s outputting proper pressure and that the valves are set with the right direction and flow control. It’s also a good idea to check all pressure gauges, filters and any sensors to verify that they are communicating with your electronic control module.
- Cleaning hydraulic system components – Cleaning is a simple, but often overlooked form of hydraulic system maintenance that your operators should commit to regularly. This includes wiping down the hydraulic pump and cylinder bodies, removing dirt and debris from hydraulic lines and arranging the jobsite to minimize risk of hydraulic fluid contamination.
While cleaning the system, your hydraulic equipment operators should pay close attention to any potential leaks. If spotted, it’s time to schedule a professional inspection and repair.
- Hydraulic fluid service – The most important and routine type of hydraulic equipment maintenance is fluid service. Hydraulic fluid is your system’s lifeblood, and it is imperative to keep contaminants out, both solids and water. Hydraulic fluid contamination is the number one cause of hydraulic pump and hydraulic cylinder failures, so maintaining adequate quality and quantity is essential.
When is it Time to Contact a Hydraulic Equipment Expert for Repairs?
Your hydraulic equipment operators can go a long way in preserving system reliability and uptime, but when it’s time to open a hydraulic pump or cylinder and provide a deeper inspection (or repair), it’s best to call in the experts. In fact, many businesses that rely on hydraulic technology partner with an expert hydraulic equipment supplier to provide ongoing maintenance and the occasional repair.
Here’s when it’s time to contact the professionals:
- Hydraulic fluid leaks are present – Hydraulic fluid leaks may be visually present if they’re external. If so, the hydraulic fluid may pool around the hydraulic pump’s reservoir or collect around the system’s lines. These are the easy leaks to spot. However, if the fluid leak is internal, your operators will have to pay attention to the system’s performance. If the hydraulic pump or cylinder has trouble achieving maximum output or suffers inexplicable drops in power, it could be due to an internal hydraulic fluid leak.
In either case, a hydraulic equipment expert will need to inspect the cause and address the problem. - The hydraulic pump or cylinder aren’t providing sufficient power – As mentioned, hydraulic fluid leaks could be behind inconsistent or insufficient power delivery. Other causes could be hydraulic fluid contamination (which can affect fluid viscosity), a sticky hydraulic valve or improper system calibration. Regardless of the cause, you’ll need an expert inspection to diagnose the problem, and an expert to provide the repair.
- The hydraulic pump is outputting unusual noises or odors – Your operators’ ears and noses are important reliability checks. Before long, your operators will grow accustomed to the way your hydraulic equipment sounds (and smells) while it’s in operation. If something is off about the way your hydraulic system sounds or smells, it could be due to a multitude of reasons. Hydraulic fluid contamination is the leading cause of either, and an expert hydraulic equipment technician should verify that this isn’t the case.
- It’s been a while since the hydraulic pump or cylinder has been thoroughly inspected – Hydraulic equipment manufacturers recommend a consistent maintenance schedule for their hydraulic pumps and cylinders. If you know that your hydraulic equipment is no longer on schedule, consider an expert inspection before a breakdown forces a more involved and expensive repair.
- Hydraulic fluid leaks are present – Hydraulic fluid leaks may be visually present if they’re external. If so, the hydraulic fluid may pool around the hydraulic pump’s reservoir or collect around the system’s lines. These are the easy leaks to spot. However, if the fluid leak is internal, your operators will have to pay attention to the system’s performance. If the hydraulic pump or cylinder has trouble achieving maximum output or suffers inexplicable drops in power, it could be due to an internal hydraulic fluid leak.
Can a Hydraulic Equipment Supplier Provide Maintenance and Repairs as Well?
If your organization runs on hydraulic power to an extent, then you likely understand the value of consistent hydraulic equipment maintenance and on-point repairs. Preventative maintenance is key to avoiding extended downtime, and expert-led repairs are key to properly addressing an equipment failure.
Fortunately, a reputable hydraulic equipment supplier has the resources and knowledge to provide this degree of maintenance. That means you can get everything from a single provider, including high quality hydraulic equipment, on-time preventative maintenance and priority repairs if one of your hydraulic pumps, cylinders or hydraulic accessories sustains a failure.