Taking care of the hydraulic machinery you use in your machine shop is vital for saving money that should be in your profits. Some repairs can be completely avoided by ensuring proper hydraulic maintenance is performed in a timely manner. Learn more about some common hydraulic repair issues that could end up being repairs that cut into your profits.

Investing In Hydraulic Oil Analysis Is Smart

Several circumstances during the full-time operation of a hydraulic machine will cause the oil to become depleted. However, simply changing the oil every month or so is not enough to save the most money for hydraulic oil supplies. The best way to know whether or not your hydraulic machines need an oil change is through oil analysis. You can test oil yourself, using special testing instruments, or you can have a sample sent out to a lab for testing it. When you know for certain the hydraulic oil you are tossing out is contaminated and unusable, you know you are not wasting money on throwing out good oil.

Operating A Hydraulic Machine At High Temperatures Equals Costly Repairs

Hydraulic machines and their vital components are sensitive to unsuitable hot oil temperatures. If a hydraulic machine is continuously run while its oil is too hot, you risk depleting the oil and the destruction of hoses and seals. Taking care to always maintain optimum temperatures for oil in a hydraulic machine's running full-time can save a great deal of money for repairs and possible machine replacement. The optimum oil temperature for most applications is usually around 37°C (100°F). When hydraulic oil is too hot, it changes viscosity. Viscosity is extremely important because the oil is not only lubricating vital parts, but it is also the conduit for the hydraulic power exerted by your machine.

Getting The Most Life Out of Your Machine's Pumps

Piston pumps on most hydraulic machines do have a place for a filter at the pump inlet and drain lines. However, putting a filter in this location could cause damage to your piston pumps. You do not need to filter the fluid because it is being taken out of a clean hydraulic reservoir that is already filtered, meaning the placement of an additional filter is a waste of money. Also, in the event the pump experiences a leak, the filter blocking the fluid's escape can cause the housing to crack. Cracked housing can ruin a hydraulic machine and cost a lot to repair. Discuss with professional hydraulic mechanics about the filters your machines would operate better without.

The more you know about how to properly maintain your hydraulic machinery, the more money you can save for unnecessary repairs. When you have machinery down for repairs, you also risk losing profits due to long periods of down time.