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If you own or run heavy equipment, you know how crucial it is that your hydraulics operate correctly. You depend on hydraulic system components to dig, lift and move material. You also need properly functioning hydraulics to mobilize your equipment.<\/p>\n
The hydraulic systems on today\u2019s machinery are highly sophisticated. They\u2019re also dependable, provided you perform thorough hydraulic maintenance and regular hydraulic inspections. This maintenance work includes carefully checking your hydraulic hoses, regularly changing your hydraulic filters and periodically analyzing your hydraulic fluid.<\/p>\n
Jump to Sections:<\/strong><\/p>\n But there\u2019s more to maintaining your hydraulics than just hoses, filters and fluid. You need to develop a comprehensive hydraulic system preventative maintenance plan. Let\u2019s examine what you can do to make sure your equipment\u2019s hydraulics are always ready to work.<\/p>\n Modern hydraulics systems apply torque multiplication from a motor and turn mechanical energy into fluid energy through a pump. Pressurized oil passes from the pump through contained lines and into expanding cylinders that perform work. Hydraulic theory and practical operation stem\u00a0from\u00a0Pascal\u2019s Law<\/a>, which says that pressurized fluid in a closed system transmits equal pressure in all directions.<\/p>\n Hydraulic systems on a modern excavator, dozer, grader or skid steer all operate on a closed-loop, or contained, principle. Although today\u2019s\u00a0hydraulic components\u00a0are becoming increasingly sophisticated, they rely on the same basic concepts as older technologies. Here\u2019s an overview of what you\u2019ll find in a current heavy equipment hydraulic system:<\/p>\n Maintaining your equipment\u2019s hydraulic system is crucial for cost-effective and long-term machine performance. Doing so takes time and requires paying attention to small details. These details include fluid contamination, which is the leading cause of hydraulic system failure.<\/p>\n A leading cause of all hydraulic system failures is fluid contamination. With earthmoving equipment, hydraulic failures due to fluid contamination pose an even greater threat because of constant exposure to dirt and debris.<\/p>\n Contamination comes in different forms and can enter a hydraulic system in many ways. Here are the\u00a0main contaminant forms\u00a0you\u2019ll commonly find damaging hydraulics and causing systems to fail:<\/p>\n There are many contamination sources threatening your hydraulic components. Experiencing regular wear and tear is part of the heavy equipment industry. It\u2019s part of your role as a machinery owner, operator or fleet manager to maintain your equipment and keep it operating as long as possible.<\/p>\n All hydraulic equipment has a calculated service life. Some components are designed to last until they\u2019re obsolete. Others suffer premature failure, and the cause is usually a lack of\u00a0preventative\u00a0maintenance.<\/p>\n Some hydraulic failures are merely inconvenient. Others are disastrous. A successful preventative maintenance program can decrease your failure rate and the cost of any issues that do occur. Here are the three degrees of hydraulic failure that you’ll find in the heavy equipment industry:<\/p>\n You can significantly reduce your hydraulic failure rate with a simple and straightforward preventative maintenance program. By following some simple steps, you can detect degradation failure in its early stages, delay transient failure events and avoid catastrophic failure. Start with routine hydraulic system maintenance and inspections.<\/p>\n Preventative maintenance is essential for keeping your hydraulic systems active and dependable. Maintaining your hydraulics prevents early failure that happens without warning. Failure prevention reduces your repair costs, minimizes your unplanned downtime and supports your profitability.<\/p>\n Maintaining your equipment is an ongoing process and a continual commitment. You need to plan on a routine that includes pre- and post-operation inspections as well as regularly scheduled maintenance.\u00a0A well-balanced\u00a0preventative\u00a0maintenance (PM) program<\/a> has two main parts:<\/p>\n To save time and money, it’s crucial to develop a routine preventive maintenance program for hose and hydraulic systems. Here are some tips for implementing such a plan:<\/p>\n Another aspect of an effective preventative maintenance program is analyzing the cause of any wear or defects. If you determine the cause of the problem, you\u2019ll be better able to prevent similar issues in the future.<\/p>\n It can be challenging to determine when to replace a hydraulic component. Knowing what warning signs<\/a> to look for can help. As you gain more experience in equipment maintenance, you’ll get better at noticing and interpreting these signals. Some of the\u00a0signs you need to look for include:<\/p>\n If you have experience with heavy equipment, you\u2019ll know when something doesn\u2019t look right. The trick is to constantly watch for problems \u2014 this is what your preventative maintenance plan is all about.<\/p>\n No matter how thorough your PM plan is, it\u2019s easy to miss something. You might not see something when it\u2019s right before your eyes. Here are some tips to help you find problems that you might not usually see and extend the life of your hydraulic system components.<\/p>\n Increasing the longevity of your hydraulic system components is a core aim of any preventative maintenance and corrective measures program. Without question, staying on top of issues provides a tremendous return on your time and money investment. Look into these helpful tips, which are sure to increase your hydraulic component’s longevity.<\/p>\n Hydraulic pumps:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hydraulic cylinders:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hydraulic lines:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hydraulic hoses:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hydraulic reservoirs:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hydraulic filters:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hydraulic fluid:<\/strong><\/p>\n Having a professional lab analyze your hydraulic fluid is an economical investment with high returns. Because hydraulic oil is your system\u2019s lifeblood, you want to make sure it\u2019s as healthy as possible. A thorough fluid analysis is a must-do maintenance measure that you can\u2019t afford to miss.<\/p>\n It\u2019s more than a wise move to have your hydraulic fluid tested<\/a>. It\u2019s a no-brainer. This simple procedure done at regular intervals picks up minute contaminant traces that you couldn’t possibly otherwise detect. It\u2019s also a low-cost operation with quick turnaround time.<\/p>\n Hydraulic fluid analysis gives you an immediate and early sign that you\u2019re developing hydraulic problems. Getting a hydraulic health warning gives you time to schedule repairs without interrupting job flow. A fluid analysis also monitors positive indicators that give you the peace of mind that your equipment is healthy.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an easy process to get your hydraulic fluid analyzed. You follow the prescribed collection directions, submit the oil to your lab and then receive the report. With an oil analysis, you can expect these tests:<\/p>\n Your oil has to be clean to keep the rest of your hydraulic components happy and healthy. Cleanliness is just that important to hydraulic performance, and so is having a clean\u00a0hydraulic service<\/a>\u00a0environment.<\/p>\n Servicing your machine\u2019s hydraulic system in the field is risky. An open and uncontrolled environment exposes all your hydraulic components to dust and dampness, which are notable threats to unprotected hydraulic components.<\/p>\n Your machinery will be far better off having its hydraulics\u00a0serviced in a shop<\/a>. An enclosed shop at a professional dealership offers you superior hydraulic protection in a clean environment. You can\u2019t possibly achieve clean-room conditions out in the field.<\/p>\n MacAllister Machinery knows how important cleanliness is for long-term hydraulic performance. Since 1945, when we opened our first Indiana Caterpillar dealership, we\u2019re maintained a reputation for shop service that\u2019s second to none. Although we do offer convenient field service<\/a>\u00a0for Cat\u00ae heavy equipment, we strongly recommend you have your hydraulic systems serviced in a shop.<\/p>\n MacAllister Machinery is a full-service sales, maintenance and repair facility. We have the facilities, equipment and expertise needed to service all your hydraulics and perform your hydraulic hose maintenance in a clean environment. We also do hydraulic fluid tests and can evaluate your hydraulic system\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n Contact MacAllister Machinery today for full hydraulic services. Call us at 800-382-1896 or\u00a0reach out to us online<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
Hydraulic Systems Overview<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nHydraulic System Failures<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nRoutine Hydraulic System Maintenance and Inspections<\/h2>\n
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What to Look For and Knowing When to Replace Hydraulic Components<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nTips on Increasing Longevity with Hydraulic System Components<\/h2>\n
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Hydraulic Fluid Analysis<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Importance of a Clean Hydraulic Service Environment<\/h2>\n
Preventative Maintenance for Hydraulic Components From MacAllister Machinery<\/h2>\n
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