Hydraulic cylinders are effectively used in modern construction, agriculture and many other manufacturing industries. Forces and motions needed for these tasks are enabled by hydraulics and more particularly hydraulic cylinders in these powerful machines. However, like other fluids a hydraulic cylinder too works and as all mechanisms get eroded or damaged with time it requires conditioning or refurbishing. So, when does one fix their hydraulic cylinder? In this blog post, you will learn what to look for and get a few pointers on how to decide when it is time for cylinder repairs in Melbourne.
Hydraulic cylinders are very important components of crossway hydraulic systems, a broken hydraulic cylinder is then a very scary thing for any human being crossway such systems.
1. Leaks
When you start observing a leak around the agricultural cylinder then you should know that it needs repairs. Leakage can take place at the rod seal, piston seal or the sealing rod wiper. Leaks also pose potential threats that are a big threat to the efficiency and performance of equipment and also result in contamination of hydraulic fluid. If you discover a leak, you will need to take your hydraulic cylinder to a technician to fix it, as soon as you find this out.
2. Difficulty in Movement
If you find that your hydraulic cylinder is stuck or is not extending when it should be, then you might know that something is wrong. Reasons why a vehicle is difficult to move are the hydraulic fluid may be contaminated, the seals may be worn out, or the parts may be damaged. In this case, if you find that your hydraulic cylinder is not able to move from the required position it needs to be repaired or examined by a professional to prevent any additional harm.
3. Reduced Efficiency
A hydraulic cylinder that is not functioning efficiently well may be due to a build-up of some sort of wear and tear. Lower efficiency can be attributed to several reasons including the presence of foreign particles in the hydraulic fluid, worn-out seals and damaged parts. It is therefore important to see that a hydraulic, cylinder that is not as functional as required to be taken for inspection and required repair.
4. Noise
Some signs that your hydraulic cylinder may be bad include if it developed some sort of noise such as grinding sound, squeaking sound, hissing sound, or even entire silence. Of these noises, the following are the most common; worn out seals, damaged or deteriorated parts, and contaminated hydraulic fluid. Any sound that is peculiar to a hydraulic cylinder should not be ignored it should be taken for repair or checked out by a professional.
- When To Repair Your Hydraulic Cylinder
In this article, we’ve looked at some instances that should make you repair your hydraulic cylinder, so let’s delve into this a little more deeply. The following factors can help you make an informed decision:
1. Comparing the Cost of Repair to the Total Cost of Replacement
However there is also something that every person should always have in mind before choosing to repair or replace the hydraulic cylinder, and that is the cost between the two. This may be so especially if the cost of repairing is low and the cylinder is not so old or damaged and the cost of replacement is high. However, if the cost of repair is high or if the cylinder has signs of severe wearing out it is advisable to invest in replacement.
2. Frequency of Repairs
This would mean that, if your hydraulic cylinder is constantly needing repairs, it could be high time to replace it. Maintenance schedules can easily turn out to be expensive and also take a lot of your time, and bring your operations to a temporary halt. At Newarmadillo, we recommend getting a new hydraulic cylinder if your current one is getting fixed more than twice every year.
3. Age of the Hydraulic Cylinder
The other consideration is the age of the hydraulic cylinder That just seals the deal on whether to repair or replace. In the case where your hydraulic cylinder has reached that stage where it has been repaired severally, it would be a plus to get a new one. Furthermore how old the hydraulic cylinder is, if your hydraulic cylinder is reaching its useful life then it may be full time to change it.
4. Availability of spare parts
In cases where obtaining the spare part required in maintaining hydraulic cylinders is a challenge, or if the cost of obtaining the spare part is high, then it is cheaper to reconstruct the cylinder. There are times when repairing your hydraulic cylinder may be the only choice due to the unavailability of replacement components.
Conclusion
Therefore, identifying when to repair the hydraulic cylinder is likely to be a difficult one with various scenarios as presented above. If the points discussed in this blog post are considered, it will be easier to decide whether you need to repair or replace your hydraulic cylinder. In the note, it is also highlighted that regular checkups and repairs to the hydraulic cylinder help increase its use and you can effectively run your business.
