Hydraulic safety awareness training in Minnesota is available to companies that work with this type of equipment. It offers many benefits and is often required to upgrade or maintain certification. Workers may believe this is a waste of time, and if you run a business that is dependent on hydraulics, you may feel the same. You would not be the first to resent this part of your business! However, this training is essential for many reasons. Here are five of them:
Maintain certification: Depending on the nature of your license, you will need to finish safety training at regular intervals. This assures that your training works well with new technology or recently discovered hazards. Since you cannot operate or maintain hydraulic equipment without certification, staying current on safety training assures you continue in your job. Even if this is not your favorite way to spend time, it is worth it to maintain your career.
Promotions: Safety awareness training also accompanies license upgrades. If you seek a supervisory position or advanced repair or maintenance skills, these responsibilities often require new attention to safety. Sometimes, you may be in a precarious situation more frequently as you use hydraulic equipment or manage others as they operate it. Safety awareness training offers new skills to help with these objectives. You may learn new ideas that make your promotion easier.
Safer workplaces: Nothing will affect workplace morale more than a catastrophic event that injures workers. This is especially risky in places that use hydraulic lifts. That is why lifts often require additional training, not only with safety, but also for effective operation. Accidents also raise insurance premiums and put you at risk of liability, especially if you failed to emphasize safety awareness training on-site or through a classroom program. Keeping your workplace safe increases productivity and reduces your expenses.
Maintains equipment condition: Equipment that fails to function puts you behind on deadlines and makes some jobs impossible. A car repair shop, for example, cannot complete much of its work without a hydraulic lift. When workers take safety seriously, they also operate equipment cautiously. They do not goof off with it or take unnecessary risks. There are no operation shortcuts that could hurt workers or damage hydraulic equipment. That allows more time for working and less time devoted to the latest repair service.
Effective accident management: Even with all the caution in the world, you can still face a workplace accident. Safety awareness training covers the vital steps to take when this occurs. Workers will learn how to adjust equipment to avoid further injury and report the accident effectively for treatment and workers’ compensation purposes. When there is an accident, you need to handle it responsibly and assure anyone who sustained injuries receives medical attention. Training makes this easier because workers will know what to do and will not frantically go through the motions, which can exacerbate injuries and equipment damage.
M & M Hydraulic Company keeps up to date on hydraulic safety awareness training in Minnesota, and that helps us finish jobs without incident. Call us today if your hydraulic machinery requires repair or maintenance.
Drive past any construction site, farm or machine shop and you will see the power of hydraulics at work. From the largest piece of construction equipment to the car jack at your local garage, they all use a hydraulic system—and at the heart of every hydraulic system is the power unit.
The power unit is the driving force of any hydraulic system. Consisting mainly of a motor, a reservoir and a hydraulic pump, the hydraulic power unit has the ability to generate a tremendous amount of power to drive the hydraulic ram. Yet, despite its essential role in the smooth operation of any hydraulic system, the proper maintenance of the power unit is often overlooked.
Power unit repairs can be very costly. Not only is the repair itself expensive, but a power unit failure can set your work projects back by days or even weeks, costing you money. The best way to avoid power unit system failures and expensive hydraulic repairs in Minnesota is to ensure that you keep the individual parts of your hydraulic power unit in good working order. Below are the most essential parts of your hydraulic power unit that should be checked and serviced regularly:
Filters: The filter keeps the hydraulic fluids in your system clean. Dirty fluids can cause clogs and carry abrasive contaminants that can damage your equipment and cause system failures. To avoid problems, be sure to change your filters regularly. Best practice is to follow the recommendations from the manufacturer on how often the filter should be changed.
Hoses: The hoses in your system should be checked regularly to ensure that they have the proper tension, diameter and pressure capacity. Over time, hoses can lose their elasticity, causing them not to perform as they should. You should also check your hoses regularly for signs of wear and tear to avoid any potential leaks in the system. Regardless of the appearance of your hoses, you should be replacing them once they reach six years of age.
Housings: The housings help remove particulates from the oil to ensure clean effluent and protection for all downstream equipment. Dirty housings can interfere with heat transfer, causing problems with oil and fluid temperature control. Be sure to check and clean your housings regularly.
Fluids: If the hydraulic power unit is the heart of the hydraulic system, than the hydraulic fluid is its lifeblood. To keep your power unit in good repair, you should always make sure that your hydraulic fluid is clean, dry (free of water) and cool.
By keeping the individual parts of your hydraulic power unit well maintained, you can avoid costly repairs and system failures. But if you should find yourself in need of hydraulic repairs in Minnesota, the skilled team at M & M Hydraulic Company is here to help. Keep in mind that our hydraulic repair services are also available in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. For the best hydraulic repairs in Minnesota and across the Midwest, give us a call today!
March 20th was the first day of spring and we all know what that means: spring cleaning! Well, maybe you don’t have plans for spring cleaning, but if your industry or facility makes significant use of hydraulic equipment, you should have plans for spring hydraulic maintenance.
Spring is the perfect time to look into some preventative maintenance for your hydraulic system. If you live in Minnesota or any of the other areas we service such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa or Wisconsin, then you already know what a toll the winter months can take on hydraulic equipment. That’s why we recommend doing some preventative maintenance on your hydraulic system once spring arrives. In fact, below are six tips to help you get started on your spring hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota:
Clean your reservoirs before changing the oil: Because the reservoir holds your hydraulic fluid, it’s important that you keep the reservoir clean. Every time you change your oil, make sure you completely drain the system and then wipe the reservoir clean with a lint-free cloth. A dirty reservoir can lead to oil breakdown, sludge and varnish.
Check your oil levels: This should go without saying, but sometimes it’s the simplest tasks that we are most likely to overlook. Check your machines to make sure they have enough fluid and refill them as needed. Be sure to follow manufacturer guidelines when it comes to filling the reservoir appropriately.
Test your oil: Besides checking your oil levels, you should also be testing the quality of the oil. Visually check for any discolorations or signs of contamination. Bad odors can also be a sign of poor quality oil. It’s smart to have the quality of your oil checked by a professional at least once a year, and spring is the perfect time to do that.
Check your filters: Again, checking your filters is something you should be doing regularly anyway, so it should definitely be part of your spring maintenance check. If contaminants are not properly filtered out of your hydraulic fluid, they can cause serious wear on your system, which can result in some costly repairs. Inspect your filters carefully during your spring maintenance check to see if they need replacing.
Check your hoses: Freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your system’s hoses. Check your hoses, tubing and fittings for leaks, frays and other signs of damage. A damaged hose can negatively affect your system’s efficiency.
Check your system pressure: While your machine is running, check the pressure. Pressure differential gauges can be installed for easy monitoring to make sure your system’s pressure stays within the recommended range for your machines.
Spring is the perfect time to complete a preventative maintenance check on your system to ensure its ongoing performance and efficiency. If you’re looking for expert hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota, you can call on M & M Hydraulic Company anytime. We offer comprehensive maintenance checks for a wide range of hydraulic systems. Just give us a call today!
When you consider the pressure and weight facing the hydraulic components on your heavy work machinery or equipment, it’s easy to understand why failures happen. Generally speaking, hydraulics are used to move, lift or support the things we can’t. They do the heavy, more difficult duties so we don’t have to put ourselves in harm’s way. But when they are not properly maintained or damage is left unfixed, there is no doubt that failures can occur, and in a number of ways—some of which can be just as dangerous to the equipment operators as they would be to bystanders.
It goes without saying that professional hydraulic service in Minnesota is an important part of regular maintenance. With that in mind, here are some of the ways you can protect your system, your investment and your staff from critical hydraulic failures:
Check for bent rods: Bent rods are a disaster in the making for your hydraulic system. Think of a bent hydraulic rod like an old man’s cane with a crook in it. It may support light amounts of weight, but when leaned on hard, it will fail when it’s needed the most. Hydraulic rods are no different from a faulty cane. All it takes is too much weight at the wrong angle for a critical failure to happen. So, because it is a matter of personnel safety, it’s important to check for bent rods.
Think finish first: Believe it or not, the finish of your rod matters when it comes to how your hydraulics function. An overly polished cylinder can take a toll on the seal’s proper function. On the other hand, too rough a finish, and you won’t have a successful seal. If you don’t know what you are looking for, make sure you pay careful attention to how your system is operating, and know that too little power can be an indicator of a polish issue. Be sure to have your rod finish inspected and polished as needed.
Watch for cracks and ballooning: The driving rods in your hydraulic system are not the only things you should keep an eye on. The cylinders can weaken and fail over time. Cracks can mean leaks and structural failure, and ballooning can lead to sudden and abrupt failures when high pressure is introduced to the cylinder. When servicing any hydraulic system, be sure to check the exterior for signs of trouble. For example, you may notice small ripples or bulges on the outside of the cylinder.
Only use purpose-built hydraulics: One of the dangers when deploying hydraulics occurs if the equipment is are not rated for the work being performed. For example, if you are using hydraulics to lift substantial weight, buy a system rated for that type of work. Skimping on capability because of cost will not only prove frustrating, but dangerous as well.
If your equipment is in need of repair, a rebuild or a little TLC, then don’t hesitate to call on the skilled team at M & M Hydraulic Company. Our superior hydraulic service in Minnesota is also available to customers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Contact us today!
When you break down a hydraulic system to its simplest parts, it isn’t too difficult to understand how it works, and nor is it difficult to understand why it’s crucial to maintain hydraulic systems. First, pressure moves a piston within a machine or heavy equipment, which in turn moves the components of a larger system. Depending on the type of equipment, the hydraulics may be the least important or the most important part of the whole operation, but whichever the case may be, they have to be properly maintained.
So, do you want your hydraulic components to function right and run smooth for years to come? Here are some helpful tips for scheduled hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota.
Check and replace oil lubricant often
Lubrication is essential to the proper performance of hydraulic systems. Components—like the ones that travel back and forth in hydraulics—can quickly wear out if lubricant is not replaced on a regular basis. Think of it like the oil in your car or truck. While the engine may run for quite a while without clean oil, it will eventually wear your engine out. And just like in your vehicle’s engine, a lack of clean oil can cause moving parts to got hot, warp and break, causing serious and widespread system failures.
Rotate you cylinders
If your system cannot be shut down for regular maintenance, have alternate cylinders available to rotate in their place. For example, having two or three cylinders will allow you to quickly shut down operations, switch the components and fire your systems back up. This will allow for each component to receive the care it needs, when it needs it. This can also be very helpful in an emergency. If you experience an unexpected failure, you’ll be able to get back online fast with a cylinder or two ready as backup.
Inspect, inspect, inspect!
As we mentioned earlier when we discussed the importance of lubrication, moving parts will wear out. This means they should be regularly inspected to ensure they are functioning properly. In systems like hydraulic lifts, or when they play weight-supporting roles, inspections can mean the difference between a safe system and a deadly one. Worn out seals, unevenly worn rods and broken hoses can all spell disaster if allowed to reach critical failure stages.
Check peripheral components
When it comes to hydraulics, simple, non-moving parts matter almost as much as the bits doing the heavy lifting. Always be sure to check things like the pins. While they aren’t the muscle of the operation, a failure can shut you down completely.
Also, depending on the type of hydraulic components you rely on, you may experience jerky operations. If your cylinders are of the high-precision variety, this can be a sign it’s time for service. It’s also good to note that regularly greasing the shaft will help to keep your system operating like it should.
For friendly and reliable hydraulic maintenance in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin, make sure your first call is to the professionals at M & M Hydraulic Company. Feel free to contact us with questions or to schedule an appointment anytime!
A hydraulic cylinder is a type of linear actuator used to create force in a straight line, whether it’s by pushing or pulling. Usually a cylinder consists of a piston and rod assembly housed within a cylindrical bore, which is in turn actuated by the flow of hydraulic fluid to create mechanical force.
There are a number of factors you need to consider when selecting the right cylinder during hydraulic repairs in Minnesota. Here is a quick overview of some of these factors:
Mass: The most important step of selecting a cylinder is determining exactly how much mass you will need to move. Then, consider the various effects that mass could have on the force you need to move it. A one-ton load pushed up will require a little more than a ton of force, but a one-ton load pushed across the ground will only need enough force to overcome acceleration and friction. There should be enough margin of error from the force of the cylinder to be safe.
Geometry: After figuring out the details of the mass you need to move, you must also consider what type of geometry is needed to make that movement possible. In a hydraulic press, for example, you only need to consider vertical movement. But other scenarios require some more complicated calculations. In a crane, for example, a cylinder pushes the boom far behind and away from the load. The load distance could require you to have applications that can handle up to 10 times the lift force, or more.
Bore size: What size bore will be required of the cylinder? The force the cylinder produces is calculated by multiplying the system pressure by the area of the internal piston surface the pressure acts upon. Use that formula to determine the size of bore you will need to achieve that force.
Rod size: Most standard cylinders come with a couple options if you are just purchasing them off the shelf. But if you have to select a rod size yourself, you must consider the required stroke length, which will have an impact on the rod buckling strength. You should also consider load-bearing ability. The greater the stroke length of a cylinder, the greater the bearing loads on the piston rod become. You’ll want to keep these bearing loads from exceeding the limitations of the cylinder design, which typically requires the use of stop tubes. You’ll most commonly see stop tubes when strokes are greater than 1,000 mm.
Cushions: Finally, you should consider whether you will need internal cushions at each end of the cylinder stroke. Cushions are typically recommended to decelerate high-speed rods, so you can reduce the energy of the impact the piston assembly has against the cylinder end cap. Cushions are not required.
For more information about how to choose the right cylinder for your hydraulic applications, contact a trusted hydraulic repairs shop in Minnesota. M & M Hydraulic Company looks forward to answering any questions you have for us.
