Lack of maintenance of hydraulic systems is the leading cause of component and system failure. Every type of hydraulic or mechanical equipment requires preventative maintenance. The key is to develop, track and keep good maintenance schedules in order to achieve optimal results. Below are a few considerations when designing your preventative maintenance program.
- Find out what requirements does the equipment manufacturer state for preventative maintenance on the hydraulic system.
- Clarify the systems operating condition, whether it operates 24 hours a day, is it located in a dirty environment, etc.
- What is the current operating pressures and flow of the system?
- What requirements and operating parameters are does the equipment manufacturer state concerning the hydraulic fluids ISO particulate?
- What does the filter company state concerning their filters ability to meet this requirement?
Preventive Maintenance Tasks
- Disconnect power
- Inspect hydraulic oil levels
- Obtain an oil analysis
- Filter hydraulic fluid
- Change filters
- Clean the inside of a hydraulic reservoir
- Clean the outside of a hydraulic reservoir
- Inspect hydraulic actuators
- Inspect and record hydraulic pressures
- Inspect and record pump flow
- Inspect hydraulic hoses, tubing and fittings
- Inspect and record voltage reading to proportional or servo valves
- Inspect and record vacuum on the suction side of the pump
- Inspect and record amperage on the main pump motor
- Inspect machine cycle time and record
Preventive Maintenance is the core support that a hydraulic system must have in order to maximize component and life and reduce system failure. Preventive Maintenance procedures that are properly written and followed properly will allow equipment to operate to its full potential and life cycle. Preventive Maintenance allows a maintenance department to control a hydraulic system rather than the system controlling the maintenance department. We must control a hydraulic system by telling it when we will perform maintenance on it and how much money we will spend on the maintenance for the system. Most companies allow the hydraulic system to control the maintenance on them, at a much higher cost.
