Common Issues with Power Seating Jacks

Power seating jacks manufactured by leading hydraulic equipment brands are marked by their reliability, but eventually, issues will emerge with every power seating jack. If your operators respond quickly when these problems emerge, a hydraulic equipment technician can provide an appropriate fix or component replacement.

Specifically, the following five signs of wear or damage shouldn’t be ignored:

• • Rough handling or physical feedback during operation – If your operators feel the power seating jack kicking during operation or vibrating excessively, it could be a sign of flow problems. A common cause of flow problems is a bad valve, which may be permitting backflow into the jack. Other potential causes of obstructed flow are contaminated or overheating hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic leak or a failing jack motor.
    
    
  • Inconsistent strand tensioning – If the power seating jack is over-tensioning or under-tensioning the strand, there’s a problem with how the hydraulic cylinders are applying force. Hydraulic leaks or contamination are always a possibility, but it’s also a good idea to inspect the hydraulic cylinder for any signs of excessive wear or failing seals.
    
    
  • Contaminants in the hydraulic fluid – Contamination is the leading cause of hydraulic system failures, including power seating jack failures. When contaminants are trapped inside of a hydraulic system, it will cause ongoing wear and tear that will typically worsen with time. Contamination can also cause a number of secondary issues, like overheating, cavitation and excessive component wear.

    With hydraulic fluid contamination, the goal is early detection. To detect contamination, it’s recommended that your operators take a hydraulic fluid sample occasionally and inspect it for any obvious signs of contaminants. You’ll likely see a cloudy or milky-like sediment suspended in the fluid if contamination is advanced enough.

    When fluid contamination is in its early stages, it may not be visually apparent. However, it can still be detected through lab analysis. At least once a quarter, send out a sample of your hydraulic fluid to a lab to verify that there are no microscopic traces of contamination. If caught at this point, the contaminated fluid can be replaced with fresh fluid.

  • Hydraulic leaks are present – Hydraulic fluid leaks can also cause a variety of issues, but they don’t usually lead to serious failures if they are repaired right away. Fluid leaks can cause problems with power delivery or introduce contaminants into the system, and they can be difficult to detect. Internal fluid leaks can result in bypass and disrupted flow but are tough to spot unless your operators are looking for the signs.

    External hydraulic fluid leaks are only slightly easier to detect in some cases as the fluid can run and pool away from the actual leak. If a leak is suspected with your power seating jack, it’s important to perform a full, detailed inspection of your hydraulic equipment to isolate the leak.

  • The motor is showing signs of distress – The power seating jack relies on the hydraulic pump’s motor to deliver fluid power to the jack’s hydraulic cylinders. If the motor develops wear or performance issues, this will reduce the power seating jack’s ability to apply tension to the strand. Signs of motor distress include unusual operating noises (whining or grinding, for example), overheating or inconsistent power delivery. If the motor has been subjected to high-cycle usage or hasn’t received consistent maintenance, it’s worth inspecting the pump’s motor to verify that it remains in effective operating shape. This is especially important if your hydraulic equipment hasn’t recently received maintenance.