Dealing With Hydraulic System Issues and Repairs
The hydraulic system on heavy equipment is essential, so if it is not working properly, the equipment may not operate correctly or could break down altogether. Hydraulics can be used to lift, push, or steer the equipment. So when you need hydraulic repair, it is important that you have a qualified hydraulic shop do the work for you.
Hoses And Fittings
Some of the most common hydraulic repairs that are needed on heavy equipment are caused by the constant movement of the machine. Soft hydraulic hoses can dry out and crack over time. As the hoses bend with the movement of the machine, they can crack and start to seep hydraulic fluid from them.
The constant movement can also strain the connections and fittings that connect the soft high-pressure lines to the hard lines, rams, and pump on the machine. The fittings can loosen and start to leak, and often that requires replacing the fittings with new ones.
A hydraulic shop can make new hoses for you if you need them, and they often carry the fittings as well. Some of these shops will even come to the job site where the heavy equipment is at and make new lines. They will then replace them onsite for you.
Hydraulic Cylinders
Heavy machinery often uses hydraulic cylinders or rams to move parts like the buck on a wheel loader, or the blade on a bulldozer. The cylinders will eventually wear and the seals inside them will need to be replaced.
The hydraulic shop can take the cylinders apart and replace the seals, clean the inside of the cylinder, and clean up the outside for you so they look and operate like new. Checking the cylinders on your machine is important. There should be a very thin layer of oil on the piston where it goes in and out of the body. If there is enough oil passing the seal to allow it to drip off the cylinder, you need to have the seals replaced right away. If the seal is not replaced, it will continue to leak and could eventually completely blow out and leave the equipment unable to operate.
Hydraulic Pumps
The hydraulic pump is the heart of the system, and if it is not pressurizing the system enough, you may start to lose the ability to lift a full bucket or turn the machine if it has hydraulic steering. The hydraulic shop can rebuild the pump on most machines, but you will need to remove the pump and take it to the machine shop to have the work done. The tech at the hydraulic shop can go through the entire pump, and replace any parts that are worn or damaged. Once the work at the shop is complete, the pump should work like new in your machine.
For more information, contact a local machine shop, such as Certified Products Inc, to learn more.
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