Case brings us the third part of the series on hydraulic system maintenance.
In the second article (December 2015 issue of Logging-on), we examined filtration, leaks, and fluid sampling and analysis. In this issue we cover operator behaviour, attachments and scheduled maintenance.
- Operator behaviour and duty cycles: A well-trained operator knows how to operate a machine smoothly, so they aren’t powering the cylinders all the way until they bang against the stock, or bottoming out the pistons. High-pressure spikes caused by reckless operation can severely damage a machine, and causes unnecessary wear on hydraulic pins, cylinder pins, bushings and other components. Not to mention the pump system and release valve — if that release valve is going off again and again due to poor operating habits, that valve is going to eventually fail. Additionally, a machine used for loading logs in a forestry application is going to work the hydraulic system differently than an excavator digging a trench on a pipeline job. Repetitive wear on a hydraulic system will be different for every application, so always keep that in mind when planning maintenance schedules. An important practice that gets overlooked all the time is the basic cleaning of a machine. Dust and dirt accumulate on this equipment daily, and if they aren’t kept clean it is much more difficult for operators and technicians to diagnose leaks or other issues with hydraulic systems.
- Attachments: Every time you hook up a different attachment to your machine, you are potentially introducing contaminates into an otherwise closed system. Always be sure that your attachments are properly maintained, and that the couplers are thoroughly cleaned and looked after. The attachment itself must be well maintained. A hydraulic breaker attachment has many components that can fail due to careless operation. A worn piston or compromised valve on a breaker will introduce dirt, debris and other contaminates into an otherwise healthy hydraulic system.
- Scheduled Maintenance: We can’t always follow recommended maintenance schedules perfectly, but if you miss or are late with a scheduled service, it will benefit you in the long run to try to get back on track. It is very important to keep up with the maintenance schedule recommended by manufacturers in order to get the best performance out of your equipment. It’s also important to keep up with later services. Early maintenance intervals are typically kept up with in order to keep a new machine in good shape, but the later scheduled services are just as important, as they can really keep a machine performing at its best as it approaches the end of its life cycle.
Source: http://casece.com/en_us/News/Pages/A-Primer-in-Hydraulic-Systems-Maintenance.aspx