Hydraulic pumps are workhorses. You rely on them to perform in various demanding situations to keep your operation moving. But just like any other kind of workhorse, hydraulic pumps can eventually wear out, and overheating is a common occurrence when this happens.
So, how do you know your hydraulic pump is overheating?
If your pump is hot to the touch, it could be overheating. You might also hear uncharacteristic noises or notice a drop in water pressure. Another indicator is using more power than normal and tripping circuit breakers.
You know there’s something up with your hydraulic pump if it starts performing poorly, and overheating is a common possibility. It’s also easy to fix if you catch it before any real damage is done.
What are Some Causes of Overheating?
Because your hydraulic pump relies on hydraulic fluid for movement, if anything goes wrong with the fluid, such as becoming contaminated with dirt or leaking, your pump could overheat. If your oil is compromised with dirt or air bubbles and loses its viscosity, or if the wrong oil type is used, overheating could result.
Not only do you need to have clean fluid in a line with no leaks, but you also must have enough hydraulic fluid in your reservoir to keep the temperature steady. When your reservoir fluid becomes too low, your pump may overheat, and bubbles may form which can ultimately damage your system.
Another cause of overheating is equipment failure. If your heat exchanger isn’t allowing the heat to escape because it is damaged or blocked, your pump will overheat from the trapped, rising temperature. Incorrect valve calibration is another possible cause for overheating, which could occur as human error or as time passes and corrosion develops on the valves.
What Happens if You Don’t Address the Problem?
Regular maintenance and inspections are key to your hydraulic pump and system lifespan. But even the most diligent teams can get caught up in production and fall behind in maintenance. If your hydraulic pump starts showing signs of overheating and you don’t address the problem, you might need a new pump soon.
Depending on how long the problem persists, you could face catastrophic failure. Hopefully, you catch it before it gets that bad and you only need to replace the fluid, filters, and seals, or whatever the cause is. However, its performance will probably be reduced due to contamination, air bubbles, or leaks. At the very least, your hydraulic fluid will be weakened, which adds stress to your system.
Any Tips to Troubleshoot Before You Call the Pros?
If you suspect your hydraulic pump is overheating, one thing you can do before calling the professionals is change your hydraulic fluid. This could be the underlying culprit. You can also change your filters and replace your seals while checking for any leaks.
Another troubleshooting tip is to listen to your pump. If it is making strange sounds, it could be cavitating, which is when air bubbles explode in the fluid and damage it internally.
Inspecting everything you can is important not just to find the cause and fix it yourself, if possible, but also to describe what your situation is to the repair service you contact.
When to Contact an Industrial Hydraulic Repair Service
Heat is a natural byproduct of a hydraulic pump, but too much heat can damage or even destroy your pump. Overheating is a common problem that can be caused by a variety of situations but can be fixed without costing you your entire pump. It can be as simple as replacing the fluid and filters, in some cases.
Before you call the pros, try some troubleshooting, but if you still haven’t found the cause, contact the experts at Servo Kinetics in Ann Arbor for trusted hydraulic repair services and save your pump. We are known through the industry for our exacting standards, competitive pricing and most importantly, quality hydraulic repair work and service you can depend on.