Practical Tips for Avoiding Common Issues Resulting in Hydraulic Equipment Failure
If the hydraulic system in your heavy construction machinery fails, you will experience significant financial losses. In general, you will need to hire skilled labour for the hydraulic equipment repair work, and you might have to replace some critical internal components. Also, you should remember that your equipment will be unusable for a certain period before restoration. Therefore, you must protect your hydraulic equipment to minimise the losses and inconveniences from letting them wear out. Here are practical tips to help you prevent hydraulic system problems.
Monitor the Filter Flow Pressure
You should change the hydraulic filters installed in your equipment as required. More often than not, construction machine owners and operators change the filters too late or too early. If you wait too long to install a clean filter, your hydraulic components will sustain damage. In simple terms, the dirt-holding capacity of the filters will be used up, and particles will begin to flow in, causing damage to the internal components. On the other hand, you shouldn't change the filters too frequently because the cost can be high. If you are uncertain about the right timetable for replacing the filter, you should monitor the pressure drop in the fluid flowing through the system. Alternatively, you can use a clogging indicator.
Establish an Oil Change Schedule
You should ensure that the hydraulic oil in your equipment is changed as necessary. There are two issues which necessitate the change of the fluid: base oil degradation and additive package depletion. These are the two conditions that indicate the need for fresh oil. Unfortunately, there is no predetermined period after which these problems will occur. Therefore, you cannot establish a schedule arbitrarily. It is possible to create a timetable based on the hours of hydraulic equipment service. However, this method is not reliable. Instead, you should think about carrying out periodic oil analysis. This practice will help you have a general idea on the right intervals for oil changes. Moreover, you will be able to identify underlying issues such as fluid contamination.
Prevent Hydraulic Overheating
You should ensure that the hydraulic system in your construction equipment is not running too hot. Like an engine, the hydraulic system is vulnerable to damage when exposed to high temperature. The heat will degrade seals, hosing and even the oil, increasing the risk of equipment failure. You can prevent the generation of too much heat by ensuring that the hydraulic components are sufficiently lubricated. You should also monitor the operating temperature and consult an experienced repairperson if there are signs of overheating.