Regular hydraulic system maintenance and care are not only recommended to ensure the safety and well-being of those using the hydraulic machines. It is also the best way to keep your hydraulic systems working efficiently for longer, prevent problems from arising or escalating and save you from having to fork out for expensive fixes.
By carrying out regular maintenance you are becoming familiar with the machinery and checking over the smooth running of your hydraulic systems which enables you (to a certain degree) to perform your own hydraulic diagnostics in the case of any problems surfacing.
As well as your own regular maintenance checks, it is also important to ensure that you are having routine hydraulic servicing from qualified professionals, not only as a regular i.e. annual check but also when during your own maintenance you find any problems that warrant further investigation.
What Is Preventive Maintenance?
Preventative maintenance is the catch-all term for the daily, weekly, monthly and annual checks, replacements, cleaning and refilling that are required to keep your hydraulic system running safely and efficiently.
This is as opposed to corrective maintenance which is when problems have been detected (often during the preventative maintenance) and requires work to correct an existing problem.
How To Maintain A Hydraulic System
There are a number of checks and steps that you need to take to keep your hydraulic system well maintained. These include:
- Ensuring the manufacturer’s handbooks/guides are easily accessible by everyone who works with the machine. They should be read by everyone who works with the machine and consulted regularly as well as if there are any problems.
- Keeping the hydraulic system and machine clean. Keeping it free of dirt and debris, especially around the points of entry such as dipsticks, plugs and joins will help prevent contaminants from entering the system – it also means that you can better visually inspect the hydraulic system and that any leaks will be more apparent.
- Check oil/hydraulic fluid levels daily in accordance with the manufacturer’s guide.
- Change filters as recommended.
- Visually inspect the rod – ensuring there is no corrosion or pitting (small holes).
- Seal replacements as required – if your machine is kept clean leaks are more easily identified and can be a sign that the seal needs replacing.
- Visually inspect lines – a symptom of issues is ballooning/bulges in the lines.
- Regularly check the temperature of the hydraulic system and ensure that it is within the range specified by the manufacturer.
- Audio checks should be done regularly as any unusual noises especially high-pitched whining or clunking/banging noises may indicate a problem.
- An annual (or as recommended by the manufacturer) test of a sample of the hydraulic fluid is recommended by qualified professionals.
Hydraulic System Maintenance Tips
Don’t be tempted to skip the basics or you will be more likely to find yourself at the receiving end of a costly fix.
Simple, regular maintenance is vital to the smooth running of your hydraulic machine. It can be hard to imagine that small and quick jobs like keeping it clean, replacing filters and checking oil can extend the life of your machine and save you a lot of money but that is the truth of it.
To ensure that these essential tasks aren’t forgotten it is well worth creating a maintenance schedule – with the daily, weekly, monthly, 6 monthly and annual checks listed either using software such as setting up reminders on phones or computers or having a maintenance folder tucked somewhere near the machine that can be manually filled in daily and with someone responsible for overseeing that it is being followed and completed.
Need Some Help?
If you discover a fault or problems during the course of your regular maintenance checks, whether it is time for your annual hydraulic fluid sample check or whether you require other help and advice about your hydraulic systems and machinery then get in touch with us at MCH Hydraulics where our team of hydraulic experts will be happy to help