Today, many industries use hydraulic systems because they come with more advantages compared to electrical and mechanical systems. The most notable of these benefits is that they use less hazardous elements than electrical systems, and can be custom-designed, making them versatile for applications in a wide range of industries.
While the benefits of using hydraulic systems are not in doubt, it is prudent to note that you need to maintain them well for high productivity.
For example, leaking joints and poor selection of hoses can easily compromise your system. In this post, we will tell you the best practices in hydraulic systems maintenance.
Five Must-Ask Questions if Your Industry Uses Hydraulic Systems
To maintain your hydraulic systems well, it is important to start by understanding how they work. So, here are five must-ask questions when using and maintaining your hydraulic systems.
- What is the workload of your hydraulic system?
- Is the hydraulic system running optimally?
- When it comes to maintenance, what does the manufacturer recommend for every section?
- What are the best operating conditions for the hydraulic system? Is it recommended for hot or cold environment?
- What is the hydraulic system’s maintenance history?
Best Practices for Maintenance of the Best Practices
- Keep the Hydraulic Oil Properly Maintained
When using a hydraulic system in industrial production, one of the most important things is the hydraulic oil. The oil helps to lubricate the system’s components, minimize tearing, and removing excess heat.
Therefore, check the manual from the machine manufacturer to identify the right hydraulic oil to use and also ensure it does not overstay in the system.
- Closely Monitor Filtration
One of the hydraulic systems parts that often get overlooked is the oil filter. Perhaps this can be understood because it is hidden in the system. However, replacing the oil filters on time can make the difference between top-performance and failure.
Check the filters regularly to note when they are used up, and only use the recommended models for replacement.
Note that even after installing the right filters, they should only be used within the recommended time to avoid damaging other parts, especially the system valves.
- Protecting the System Integrity
Whether you have a food production line or mining industry, as shown here, it is prudent to maintain the system as a whole in top condition to ensure everything runs as expected. Particularly, you should regularly check and repair the seals, the pump system, and hydraulic pins.
- Do Scheduled Maintenance
When manufacturers design industrial equipment, as mentioned by Iskander Makhmudov, they also release the recommended schedule for maintenance. Scheduled maintenance involves checking different parts of the system to ensure they are running well.
If issues are found with the pump, valves, or other parts, they should be rectified immediately. Refer to the manual of your hydraulic machine to know the recommended time for maintenance.
If you have or plan to use a hydraulic system in your industrial production unit, it is prudent to ensure it is in top condition all the time. By following the best practices that we have listed above for maintaining your system, you will find it easy to optimize production and reduce downtime-associated costs.