A failing hydraulic isn’t easy to spot unless you know what you’re looking for. It’s not a visual problem, like structural damage—that’s a problem right out in the open for anyone to see! In fact, you might not even know you need hydraulic repair in Minnesota until it’s too late and you need complete hydraulic pump replacement. However, if you know what to look for, you may even be able to solve some problems yourself.
Incorrect installation
If you installed your hydraulic pump yourself, there’s a high probability that you installed it incorrectly. On the other hand, maybe someone else installed it for you but still did it wrong. Regardless, if the pump isn’t installed correctly, your pump won’t work from day one.
Incorrect installation can create a myriad of problems stemming from external loads on the pump. The pump should attach to its pipes without force and clear all components in any operation. After installation, there are many parts of the pump that need to be maintained regularly in order to ensure your pump works correctly at all times.
Lack of oil
A hydraulic pump without enough oil won’t work at all. Of course, the same goes for any type of engine or motor. Just as you maintain the correct level of oil in your car, you must be sure to keep the oil at the correct level in your hydraulic pump.
Lack of oil can be caused by an uncovered reservoir or an air leak in the suction line. If the reservoir isn’t covered, oil will spill out and if there’s an air leak in the suction line, oil won’t be able to flow. Luckily, a lack of oil usually won’t harm the bearings too badly if the problem is detected early.
Aeration or cavitation
Both aeration and cavitation happen when oil is either filled with air or vapor. While they’re two different problems, you can identify both of them by a noisy and/or jerky pump. Again, both problems have the same effect. Aeration and cavitation cause erosion of pressure plates and the pump housing. Aeration is caused by air bubbles leaking into the oil. This air usually comes from a small suction leak. If pump suction is restricted, you’re in danger of experiencing cavitation. This is caused by the creation and collapse of oil vapor. Hydraulic repair in Minnesota is necessary immediately if you can diagnose either of these problems.
Particle issues
Obviously having any foreign parts get into your pump will cause some issues. Improper system flushing after a previous repair can cause very small metal particles to scratch the pressure plates.
The most common reason for hydraulic pump failure is very small particles entering your system. Particles like dust can easily get in through worn seals. However, you can prevent this by keeping the area around your pump tidy and cleaning the tank caps, funnels and filter neck before opening the tank.
These are just some of the examples of reasons your hydraulic pump might fail. If you think you’ve encountered any of these problems, contact us at 651-635-9419.