When your hydraulic system fails, finding and troubleshooting the problem can be a challenge considering the complexity of hydraulic systems. The sump, motor, valves, pump, fluid, or actuators could be contributing to the failure in some way individually or all at once and an issue with one may have a domino effect on other parts of the machine.
There are four main causes of a hydraulic system failure that can be summed up as air or water contamination, fluid level or quality problems temperature issues, or simple human error. Many of the technical issues that can lead to a hydraulic system failure fall into one of these broad categories.
Below are four the of main causes of hydraulic system failure
Air and Water Contamination
This is by far the most common source of failure for a hydraulic system, as much as 90% of failures can be sourced to some sort of contamination in the air or water inside the system. This is usually because air enters the system (either by way of cavitation or aeration) which causes damage to the system and eventual breakdown.
Fluid Issues
This form of failure usually leads to either an air or water contamination, as mentioned above. Low fluid levels can result in poor filtration. The wrong quality of fluid can cause temperature issues. On top of this you have to be on the lookout for leaks. One way to avoid this is to make sure you’re using the right type of fluid for your machine.
Temperature Problems
Hydraulic systems can overheat or freeze. When the system is too cold fluid can thicken, forcing the pump to work harder to move it through. If the temperature is to warm then the opposite can happen, the fluids thin and lack lubrication and can lead to leaks. Extreme heat can cause the fluid to oxidize and build up in the system as it thickens.
Human Error
While there can often be environmental or mechanical issues, more often than not, human error is the root of many of these problems. This can come from a poor installation job, lack of maintenance or improper maintenance, inappropriate use of the system, or utilizing the wrong parts for your machine. That’s why it’s important to make sure you talk to a professional during the install and any maintenance processes.
Related Questions
How can I troubleshoot a problem with my hydraulic system?
The best way to troubleshoot is to go through all the parts of the machine—motor, pump, valves and lines, and fluid—while the system is running to see if you can pinpoint the source of error, Keep in mind multiple symptoms can lead to different sources of error.
What is the best maintenance program to perform on my hydraulic system?
Check the fluid levels and connections daily and always be on the lookout for strange sounds. About once a month, do a deeper check of the system. If you find an issue, contact a hydraulic repair service so they can run systems check.
Industrial Hydraulic Repair Services
If your industrial hydraulic equipment has failed or is posing issues, it needs a reliability centered maintenance check. The team of hydraulics experts at Servo Kinetics in Ann Arbor offers the highest quality hydraulic repairs at the lowest possible cost, in the shortest turn around time possible. For more than 45 years our satisfied customers have trusted our process with their critical hydraulic repair needs.
Our services include hydraulic pump and motor repair, field piping, flight simulator repair, reverse engineering services and more. Take advantage of our rapid response hydraulic repair services and Save Big over the cost of new OEM equipment. Questions? Call and speak to a Specialist today!