How Often Should Hydraulic Equipment be Serviced?
Hydraulic equipment is typically managed using a tiered maintenance schedule. In other words, there are some basic maintenance tasks that should be handled daily or weekly, and more extensive maintenance that should be performed monthly or annually.
It is critical for hydraulic equipment operators to stick to a consistent maintenance schedule. It’s also important to track any service each piece of hydraulic equipment receives. This will ensure there are no lapses in critical maintenance.
Here, we’ll outline an expected maintenance schedule for your hydraulic pumps, hydraulic cylinders and important hydraulic accessories.
What Daily Hydraulic Equipment Maintenance Should Be Done?
It’s essential to keep a close eye on your hydraulic fluid each day as the majority of hydraulic equipment failures result from contaminated fluid. In addition, your daily maintenance checks should include visual inspections and basic hardware tweaks. Specifically, your operators should do the following:
- Check fluid levels in your hydraulic pump reservoir
- Check the hydraulic fluid’s temperature and cleanliness (look for dirt or water)
- Inspect the hydraulic pump, valve groups and all hydraulic lines for any fluid leaks
- Tighten all hardware and pipe clamps to ensure stability
- Start up the hydraulic pump and listen for any changes in motor noise
- Check the pressure gauges and verify their readings
- Wipe down all equipment surfaces, including the hydraulic pump and other components
- Consult with operators to determine if any hydraulic equipment maintenance is required
What Monthly Hydraulic Equipment Maintenance Should be Handled?
Every month, your hydraulic equipment operators will need to give the hydraulic system a thorough check and a good cleaning. The goal here is to ensure ideal conditions for continued operation. The following maintenance is recommended monthly:
- Check all hydraulic fluid filters and replace any that are indicating contamination
- Check for any hydraulic leaks around couplings and connections
- Clean the hydraulic power unit and check for fluid leaks there as well
- Stop the hydraulic pump and tighten any loose couplings
- If any fittings, seals or couplings are still leaking, replace them
- Inspect all hydraulic hoses and replace any that have cracks
- Clean off any hydraulic cylinders and check for leaks around the ports
- Tighten hardware on all hydraulic pumps, motors and valves
What Hydraulic Equipment Maintenance Should be Performed Biannually?
A couple times a year, your operators will need to collect and send off a hydraulic fluid sample to either the fluid manufacturer or to a trustworthy fluid testing service. These fluid testing services have access to lab equipment that allows them to perform molecular analysis. This means they can detect contaminants in the hydraulic fluid that would be invisible to the naked eye.
If contamination is caught early on, the hydraulic fluid can be replaced before it causes any mechanical issues.
In addition, every 3-6 months, it’s a good idea to check the pre-load pressure on any accumulators and verify that it’s in range.
What Types of Hydraulic Equipment Maintenance are Required Annually?
At least once a year, your hydraulic pumps and cylinders should be comprehensively inspected for any signs of internal wear, corrosion or other visual signs of damage. This should be handled by an experienced hydraulic equipment technician.
Further, your operators should drain the hydraulic power unit and perform a full system cleaning. This includes wiping down the inside surfaces of the hydraulic pump reservoir and using an approved cleaning solvent for the job. Avoid using any cotton-based rags or cloths that will leave fiber residue inside the tank.
Why is it Important to Schedule Timely Hydraulic Equipment Maintenance?
Consistent hydraulic equipment maintenance is essential for overall system health. You can’t ignore it and you can’t cut corners when servicing the equipment. Here’s why:
- Hydraulic maintenance extends the equipment’s lifespan – Hydraulic equipment issues tend to begin small and can be addressed if caught early. If not recognized early, even a tiny leak can eventually introduce system-ruining contamination into your lines. By catching and mitigating these minor problems right away, you’ll avoid the kind of failures that will permanently take a piece of hydraulic equipment offline.
- Hydraulic maintenance minimizes operations downtime – Every hydraulic equipment failure causes downtime, and every instance of downtime will cost your organization. And depending on the industry your business operates in, downtime could be punishing. Energy companies, for example, may incur additional costs due to missed output quotas or due to additional regulatory or safety checks. Invest in effective hydraulic equipment maintenance and you’ll avoid preventable downtime.
- Hydraulic maintenance supports better worker safety – It’s not just about productivity. On point hydraulic equipment maintenance also boosts safety by preventing the kind of catastrophic failures that can result in injury. It’s the right thing to do and it will protect your organization by avoiding liability.
- Hydraulic maintenance extends the equipment’s lifespan – Hydraulic equipment issues tend to begin small and can be addressed if caught early. If not recognized early, even a tiny leak can eventually introduce system-ruining contamination into your lines. By catching and mitigating these minor problems right away, you’ll avoid the kind of failures that will permanently take a piece of hydraulic equipment offline.
Prioritize better safety, performance and profitability with consistent hydraulic equipment maintenance, provided by a proven hydraulic expert.
A Trusted Hydraulic Equipment Supplier Can Also Provide Expert Maintenance
If your operations rely on hydraulic technology, they also rely on reliable hydraulic equipment maintenance. And in many cases, you can source that expert maintenance from your hydraulic equipment supplier.
Many hydraulic shops combine both hydraulic equipment supplies and maintenance services to provide maximum value to their clients. If you’re partnered with a hydraulic equipment supplier who has maintenance expertise, it will be a major advantage for your operations. You’ll have priority access to replacement parts and expert maintenance. You’ll have access to a full hydraulic shop with diagnostic equipment. You’ll have access to technicians that know how to properly disassemble, troubleshoot and reassemble hydraulic pumps and cylinders for optimal results.
If it’s been a while since your hydraulic equipment was inspected or serviced, it’s time to partner with a hydraulic equipment technician who can provide maintenance. It will save your organization time and money and improve safety on your worksites.