There are several good reasons to have a reliable system of preventive maintenance in place at your facility — costly emergency repairs, production downtime, and worker safety, just to name a few. Hydraulic system preventative maintenance aims to help you identify component weaknesses before failure and loss of production.
Let’s take a look at what all hydraulic system preventative maintenace requires and why it is important for your facility.
Why Is Preventive Maintenance Essential for Hydraulic Systems?
The high pressures and temperatures associated with hydraulics make hose and fitting maintenance, as well as selection, critical. If done correctly, the risk of injury and/or excessive, costly downtime decreases significantly. In addition, there is a growing awareness regarding costs associated with cleaning up a hydraulic spill (EPA).
There are many other benefits of preventative maintenance for these systems as well, including:
- Production Efficiency: Equipment is in good operating condition at all times.
- Labor Efficiency: Better use of in-shop maintenance personnel since there’s less emergency work and more scheduled work.
- Parts Inventory Control: Improved spare parts inventory control and reduced parts usage.
- Reduction of Equipment Downtime: Through scheduled inspections, downtime is significantly reduced with planned downtime at opportune times.
- Safety: Workplace hazards are minimized.
- Increased Life Expectancy: Equipment that is properly maintained has a longer lifespan.
- Less Capital Outlays: Because your equipment will last longer, there will be no need to purchase new equipment prematurely.
- Reduced Repair Costs: Fewer breakdowns means less repair costs for you.
What Does a Preventative Maintenance Program for Hydraulic Systems Require?
A proper hydraulic system maintenance program should consist of the following key elements:
- Maintaining a safe work environment.
- Keeping updated maintenance records.
- Regularly scheduling inspections, which should be conducted when equipment is shut down and hoses are not pressurized.
- Troubleshooting (identifying problems and solutions).
- Selecting proper hose and fittings.
- Ensuring proper assembly, routing, and installation.
- Receiving updated maintenance and product training periodically.
Ready to take the first steps toward creating a hydraulic preventive maintenance program in your facility? Contact our Industrial Rubber Services Manager, Jason Stone, today!
Improve Your Hydraulic Systems with Continental’s Extended Life X Series Hose
When the job requires tight bends, flexibility, and abrasion resistance, this high-pressure service hose steps up to the task. Using a nitrile inner tube and two-wire, high-tensile steel reinforcement, it can handle 5,800 psi (31 MPa) flows of petroleum- and water-based hydraulic fluids.
Continental fittings are constructed from a single piece of steel without brazed or welded joints to provide ultimate protection against leaks and potential leak paths. With full-length crimps and a low-profile design that will last longer, the interlocking Bite-to-Wire technology delivers maximum coupling retention for safer assembly and reliability under the toughest pressure—no internal or external skive required.
Extended Life™ XR16SC is for high-pressure service with tight bends needing abrasion resistance and flexibility. It is made for use with petroleum- and water-based hydraulic fluids. This hose has excellent impulse performance and flexibility, exceeding SAE 100R2 and SAE 100R16 standards.
Hydraulic Repair and Replacement Services by IBT
Let IBT repair or replace your hydraulic components. Our hydraulic experts offer full-service evaluations for most major brands of hydraulic systems, and we have an extensive range of service locations. Our hydraulic repairs are typically completed in one to five business days.
