Hydraulic cylinders are made to be durable and get a lot of work done. But no matter how high the quality of your equipment, problems still sometimes arise. If your hydraulic cylinder isn’t working as well as it used to, or you’re noticing warning signs of equipment breakdown, here are a few things to check first.
Oil Contamination
The leading cause of failing hydraulic cylinders is contaminated oil. Water, buildup from the oil itself, and the breakdown of other solid parts of the cylinder like the seal can all pollute the oil. If your hydraulic cylinders are no longer performing their best, contaminated oil should be the first thing you have checked.
Damaged Seals
Oil contamination can occur if there are leaks in the hydraulic cylinder. Since the seal is one of the most frequently damaged parts of the cylinder, this makes perfect sense, but the opposite is also true. Contaminated oil can also damage a seal, even if it was previously in perfect condition. Since these two problems are so closely related, keeping a close eye on both will do a lot to keep your hydraulic cylinders in proper working order.
Insufficient Maintenance
Serious damage to your hydraulic cylinders is avoidable. In fact, the second leading cause of damage to hydraulic cylinders is insufficient maintenance. Having an annual inspection on your calendar is a good start, but you should also maintain your hydraulic cylinders in how you use them every day. The fluid level should be examined daily to keep your hydraulic cylinders running smoothly, and you should keep a sharp eye out for signs of damage like leaks and corrosion even while the hydraulic cylinders are in use. Caring for your cylinders in this way can keep them running smoothly for a long time to come.