Hydraulic System Repair

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Hydraulic System Repair: Everything To Know

Hydraulic systems are present almost everywhere, and if you work closely or deal with them, you want to ensure they’re at their best every time. This means getting proper hydraulic system repair, having the right knowledge, and following the necessary recommendations to prevent or do it the right way. In this blog, we cover all of these aspects. Take a look:

Hydraulic System Basics:

Hydraulic technology has evolved and improved since its origins. Still, when you narrow it down, you’ll always find four primary components, which are essential for it to work and to know if you need a hydraulic system repair. Here’s the breakdown:

● Reservoir: A hydraulic reservoir is known for executing four functions. Apart from holding the fluid volume, it transfers heat and allows moisture and air release as well as contaminants to settle.
● Pump: According to Pascal’s principle, the pressure applied to the confined fluid will transfer through it. The pump applies movement to the fluid, which becomes the transmission medium, to transform mechanical into hydraulic energy.
● Directional control valve: Valves regulate and direct fluid flow in the hydraulic system.
● Actuator: Whether a motor or a hydraulic cylinder, the actuator transforms hydraulic energy back to mechanical energy, whether in linear or rotary motion and work, respectively.

If troubles arise and you want to know how you troubleshoot a hydraulic system, going over these components before calling a professional can give you a better picture.

Common Hydraulic System Problems

From construction to manufacturing processes and more, hydraulic systems power all sorts of operations, from small to industrial scale. If you use them daily, you must keep an eye on your systems, especially when failures appear.

Whether caused by wear, an accident, or a specific issue, problems can arise, which is why it’s key to stay on top of your systems and look out for common problem signs such as noises, high temperatures, and failed operations. Some common hydraulic system problems are:

● Contamination: It can happen as water contamination or particulate (air) contamination and lead to other common problems. When water or air infiltrates the system, they wear down components, cause high temperatures, etc. These have to be troubleshot and fixed by a professional.
● Incorrect hydraulic fluids: This is another common problem that causes high temperatures and contamination. There are entire criteria for selecting the proper hydraulic fluid for your operations, which can help prevent hydraulic system repair in the future. Read more about it ahead.
● Clogged filters: The filtration system prevents contamination from happening. These filters have to be replaced periodically with the proper configurations. When they’re not, contamination occurs.
● High fluid temperature: It can have many sources, as we have discussed, and cause many issues, such as thinning, oxidizing, or thickening the fluid, resulting in leaks, restricted flow, cavitation, etc.

Can Hydraulic Systems Be Repaired?

You can get hydraulic system repair, replacement, rebuilding, and more. While it is possible to do so, there are some key recommendations to minimize problems and ensure repairs are done correctly.

Hydraulic System Recommendations

Regardless of the industry, if a hydraulic system is involved in your daily operations, you want to give it the necessary treatment to continue performing correctly. While there are hundreds of other details to look at, you can be one step ahead by following these recommendations:

Choose The Right Components For The System

Nowadays, each hydraulic component performs more than one function, but it doesn’t mean they can work for every application. You’ll find hundreds of types, from pumps to valves and even fluids for different purposes. Choosing the right one for your system’s specific needs or equipment is critical so everything runs smoothly.

For instance, a vane pump isn’t ideal for high-pressure settings without contaminant and fluid quality control. Or, if you want more efficiency at a lower cost, a gear pump could be the solution. You must find the correct elements if you ever need hydraulic system repair or replacement.

Choose The Right Hydraulic Fluid

Following the same line with hydraulic components, the hydraulic fluid isn’t only the transmission medium; they lubricate other components and perform the heat transfer and contamination control functions at the reservoir. To choose them, you should consider two factors: their properties and their type. We list them below; you can also read more about them in another blog:

Properties:

● Viscosity: Resistance to flow and shear.
● Viscosity index: Variation of viscosity with temperature variations.
● Oxidation stability: Resistance to heat-induced degradation.
● Wear resistance: Wear rate reduction capacity.

Types:

● Petroleum-based: They are low-cost and provide a wide range of options with different features based on the additives used.
●Water-based: They provide fire resistance and lubrication but have to be monitored.
●Synthetic fluids: They are suitable for lubrication in high-pressure or high-temperature systems. They have a higher cost and are toxic, therefore requiring particular disposal.

Perform Regular Maintenance

Inspections and maintenance tasks should be routine, such as replacing the fluid, filters, etc. You can have a specialist do it for you or have your employees do so if they have the right experience. What you never want to do is overlook it, as it can minimize the need for hydraulic system repair.

Trust A Professional For Repair

Following the previous recommendations goes a long way in preserving your hydraulic systems. Still, if problems arise regardless, there’s nothing to dread. You can get hydraulic system repair from certified professionals, ensuring they are reliable.

At Core Hydraulics, that is precisely what we do and who we are. Our reliable experts with 60 years of combined experience will assist you with your hydraulic system repair needs in the Greater Houston Area. Contact us 24/7 and let us know how to help you!