The hydraulic system of heavy equipment and other relative vehicles can have issues even when reliable. Significant symptoms of hydraulic problems include the following:
- Noisy operation
- Problems with hydraulic oil flow
- Faulty hydraulic system operation
- Incorrect hydraulic pressures
- Excessive heat
If any of the issues above occur in your heavy machines, plan a service to make essential part substitutions or fixes to the system. These significant issues separate into explicit problems that allude to potential causes and solutions for the system.
Noisy Operation
Loud operation implies there’s excessive noise coming from some component of the machine. Listen cautiously for the source of the sound since this can help a professional technician distinguish potential issues. For example, a loud pump could indicate air in the hydraulic fluid, a ragged pump, or misaligned couplings.
Noise coming from the pump’s engine could indicate misaligned couplings or wear in the pump’s motor. When you hear extra noise coming from the relief valve, the valve might not have the right setting, or a poppet on it might have worn.
Be mindful of diagnosing your hydraulic system only from the sounds and their areas. A guaranteed expert has the instruments and tests to determine the specific reason for the noise and give maintenance to it.
Problems With Oil Flow
Problems with hydraulic fluid flow fall into three categories – too much flow, not enough flow, or no current flow. Because these groupings cover many causes, a certified technician may need to conduct additional diagnostic tests or look for other factors to find the exact cause.
For example, if you have no flow from the hydraulic pump, it could be due to any of the following:
- A faulty pump motor
- Pump not getting hydraulic fluid
- A damaged or improperly assembled pump
- Sheared coupling for the pump drive
- The pump turning in the opposite direction
- An improperly placed prime mover direction
- All hydraulic oil passing over the relief valve instead of into the pump
Many of these problems will require service to the pump or replacement parts in the hydraulic pump. The certified technician may also need to make repairs or part replacements based on the wear sustained by your equipment’s hydraulic system.
Faulty Hydraulic Operation
Abnormal movement of a hydraulic system can lead to dangerous situations on a construction site. Erratic, slow, inconsistent, or limited movement indicate serious problems that need immediate repairs. A lack of hydraulic fluid flowing through the pump may restrict movement. Air in the oil may cause both noisy and erratic operations.
To avoid causing damage or dangerous scenarios on the worksite, instruct all operators to report the faulty operation immediately and keep the equipment out of use until after repairs.
Incorrect Pressures
Incorrect pressure in a hydraulic system closely mirrors faulty operation. If your equipment shows faulty operation, a technician may need to look at the fluid pressure and determine the cause of the pressure problem. Air in the oil may cause erratic pressure and erratic operation of the hydraulic mechanism. In addition, low pressure could happen from a damaged pump or pressure reduction valve.
Excessive Heat
A hydraulic system may overheat when the fluid overheats. Whichever component of the system runs hot can provide a clue to the source of the excess heat. For instance, if the pump or motor runs hot, the system may have too high of a load put on it, the engine may have damage, or the relief valve may be set too high.
As with other hydraulic system problems, an expert must conduct a thorough investigation of the entire system to identify the sources of any issues. When looking for an expert, choose a certified technician who has the replacement parts for your equipment’s brand on hand. Moreover, this combination ensures that technicians repair your heavy equipment correctly and as quickly as possible.
Source: Primesource