How to Prevent Hydraulic Cylinder Failure

Keeping your equipment in top working order ensures your operations remain efficient. If you encounter hydraulic cylinder failure, your equipment can be out of service, costing you precious time and income. Preventative measures are key to keeping your equipment working and making you money. Here are some tips to prevent failure. 

Perform regular hydraulic cylinder maintenance

The various components of your hydraulic cylinder should be kept in good condition, such as seals, mounts, and pivot pins. If any of these parts are worn or damaged, you could be running the risk of damaging the rod, its coating, and contaminating your hydraulic fluid which could lead to more expensive repairs down the road. 

Operate your hydraulic cylinder within manufacturer ratings

Don’t push your cylinders to perform beyond the manufacturer’s stated ratings. Understanding their limits ensures your equipment will maintain peak performance for a longer period of time and extend the life of its parts.  

Keep your hydraulic fluid clean

Hydraulic fluid is key to a top performing hydraulic cylinder and extends the life of all parts related to the cylinder. It is important to ensure your fluid is cleaned and filters are changed regularly to prevent contamination and hydraulic cylinder failure. 

Be careful of environmental conditions

The exposure of your hydraulic cylinder rods to caustic environments can cause early wear and breakdown of coatings. Protect your equipment from extended exposure to these environments. Additionally, operation of the equipment in extreme temperatures could cause seals to harden and fail. 

Watch added stress on cylinders from side loads 

Be careful when performing side loads that the pressure on your cylinders does not exceed their limitations. If pressure gets too high, you may run the risk of bending the rod or deforming the cylinder, both problems potentially adding downtime and costs to replace the hydraulic cylinder or its parts. 

Prevent hydraulic cylinder failure by performing regular maintenance, taking care to not exceed manufacturers limitations during operation, and watching for any sign of underperformance. Preventative actions can extend the life of your hydraulic cylinders, reduce costly repairs down the road, and avoid costly downtime for your business.