Tips for Maintaining & Diagnosing Problems with Your Hydraulics Equipment

Hydraulic systems from companies like G.V. Hydraulink serve a multitude of purposes, often being used in heavy mechanical equipment and vehicles. A hydraulics system is designed to help power large equipment mechanisms by using pressurized fluids to power motors and rams, which in turn moves the equipment. When these systems fail, they create problems for companies because the equipment will no longer be able to move on its own.

Most large companies have a team of maintenance personnel to fix hydraulic equipment when it fails. However, in most instances, the need for a fix wouldn't be necessary if the company had been proactive in doing regular maintenance to the system. Training staff to do regular preventative and corrective maintenance can improve the functionality and lifespan of your system, limiting hydraulic failure significantly.

Here's a guide to some of the common issues that companies experience with their hydraulic system and a few ways to maintain the health so that you do not have these issues in the future.

Common issues & fixes for hydraulic systems

High fluid temperature

High fluid temperature is a common issue that causes hydraulics systems to fail because it overheats your system, damaging seals and burning through fluid at a very high rate. Rather than operate your machinery without proper attention, you should install a small alarm mechanism within your system that will notify you each time your fluid spikes above normal temperatures. While this doesn't solve the issue, it will alert you prior to you doing enough significant damage that you have to seek costly repairs. This is known as a preventative maintenance measure.

A corrective measure you can take is to always monitor and maintain the correct level of fluid within your system. Damage is done to seals and other components when your fluid is completely burned out. So constantly refilling the reservoir so that there is enough fluid in your system, will prevent maintenance issues. However, this should only be a temporary measure you take until you're able to have a professional review your system.

Hydraulic system operating at slower rate

When your system begins to slow down, you should be able to quickly deduce that there is something wrong within it that is preventing it from operating at its best capabilities. This is typically attributed to an issue with the flow of your high-pressurized fluid. If there is a leak in your system, your fluid will not move at a fast enough rate to power your equipment to operate at the rate you're accustomed to. This issue cannot easily be fixed as you'll need a professional to inspect all components of your system to determine where the leak is located. Your maintenance contractor will likely use an infrared thermometer to find the drop in pressure and quickly locate the leak, repairing the issue and getting your equipment running smoothly again.