Is Your Equipment Ready for Winter?

As temperatures drop and winter approaches, ensuring your equipment is in peak condition is more critical than ever. Skid steers, excavators, dump trucks, and other heavy machinery face extra wear and tear in cold weather. Hydraulic systems, in particular, can be vulnerable to freezing temperatures, causing reduced performance, leaks, or even complete failure. Hydraulic Cylinders, …

Common Reasons for O-Ring Failure

O-ring seals are essential components in any hydraulic cylinder, including custom-manufactured cylinders. O-ring seals are constructed from a ring-shaped piece of elastomeric material and are designed to prevent leaks in critical equipment. Like any component part, however, they can sometimes fail. O-ring failure can lead to complete hydraulic cylinder shutdowns, leading to expensive delays and …

Replacing Hydraulic Cylinder Filters

Hydraulic fluid contamination is the top cause of hydraulic cylinder failure. Contamination can cause seal damage, component degradation, and other critical damage. Knowing how and when to change hydraulic filters will save you time, money, and stress, as oil filters are the most efficient way to remove dirt, particles, or other contaminants from your hydraulic …

Maintaining Your Hydraulic Cylinder

Hydraulic cylinders are built to withstand heavy-duty applications, rugged environments, and continuous use. However, no matter your application or equipment, hydraulic cylinders require upkeep and servicing to continue operating at a high level. Regular inspections and preventative maintenance are the best ways to maintain any hydraulic cylinder. Through these processes, you can get to know …

How to Prevent Bent Hydraulic Cylinder Rods

Bent cylinder rods are a common source of hydraulic cylinder failure. Rods bend when they are forced out of alignment by pressurized fluid, when a load’s weight is greater than the pressurized fluid inside the cylinder, or if they are impacted by heavy objects or machinery. Bent rods can scrape the interior of the cylinder …

Servicing Your Snap Ring Hydraulic Cylinder

Snap ring hydraulic cylinders feature a snap ring installed into a groove at the gland near the cylinder’s rod end. These snap rings retain the seal packing while keeping contamination and particulates away from the hydraulic cylinder seals. They are held in place by an end cap, rod guide, or other component part. By servicing …

How Do I Know It’s Time to Repair My Hydraulic Cylinders?

Hydraulic cylinders are industrial powerhouses that perform at a high level to keep your equipment operating as designed. As cylinders are an integral part of mobile and industrial machinery, it is critical to recognize when your hydraulic cylinders are broken, worn, and need repairs. Signs of Hydraulic Cylinder Wear & Damage By understanding and recognizing …

Protect Your Hydraulic Cylinder with Grease

Cylinder rods are a critical component in any hydraulic cylinder. When rods are not given routine maintenance or if your hydraulic cylinder is only used occasionally, rods can quickly become rusted or pitted, directly affecting the efficiency of your cylinder and possibly resulting in a failure of your hydraulic system. To avoid this outcome, incorporate …

Cleaning and Lubricating Your Hydraulic Cylinder

How to Clean and Lubricate a Hydraulic Cylinder The best way to extend the operating lifespan of your hydraulic cylinder is to ensure all rods and component parts are adequately lubricated to avoid friction and wear. Failure to do so can result in rust, pitting, and complete system failure. Cleaning and lubricating your hydraulic cylinder …

Preventative Maintenance for Your Hydraulic Cylinders

To protect your hydraulic cylinders for a long life performing at a high level, it is essential to incorporate preventative maintenance into your regular protocol. By establishing and following a strict maintenance calendar, you can create a safer work environment for operators while preventing premature hydraulic cylinder failure. Cleaning & Maintaining Hydraulic Cylinders Conducting regular …

A Guide to Repacking your Hydraulic Cylinder

Drift, fluid leaks, or changes in performance can all be signs that your hydraulic cylinder needs repacking. But don’t worry, the process is straightforward and takes less time than you might think. We take the mystery out of repacking a hydraulic cylinder by breaking down the process for you, step-by-step. Prepare the Workspace Your workspace …

Common Causes of Hydraulic Cylinder Failure

Hydraulic cylinder failure can bring your operations to a standstill, resulting in lost revenue, time, and, potentially, jobs. It is necessary to understand the common causes and symptoms of hydraulic cylinder failure to avoid these costly outcomes. Signs and Symptoms of Hydraulic Cylinder Failure Your hydraulic cylinder will often display symptoms of an issue before …

The Importance of Hydraulic Fluid Viscosity

So, you’ve selected the right hydraulic cylinder that meets your needs. You have the power and performance needed to withstand rigorous daily demands. To ensure your hydraulic system continues performing optimally, fluid viscosity should be a top priority for hydraulic system efficiency and performance. While hydraulic cylinder maintenance is not exactly exciting, it also ensures …

How to Check and Prevent Hydraulic Fluid Leaks

Most people know time is money. While it may be a tiresome cliché, no one wants to waste time or money. The more time you spend fixing or replacing your hydraulic cylinder, the more money you spend and ultimately lose. Hydraulic cylinder leaks do not have to be large, all-encompassing leaks that result in pools …

How to Troubleshoot a Snow Plow Hydraulic Cylinder

It is that time of year again. Winter is here. It is unavoidable, often inciting chaos depending on how active mother nature decides to be. While you may not be able to control the weather, you can make sure your snow plow hydraulics are ready for whatever weather systems come your way. Learn how to …

Avoiding Hydraulic Fluid Contamination

With 75% to 80% of hydraulic system failures stemming from fluid contamination, the importance of avoiding hydraulic fluid contamination cannot be overstated. Keeping your hydraulic fluids contaminant-free can mean consistent, optimal system performance and lessens the chances of downtime due to hydraulic system replacement or repair. Major Hydraulic Fluid Contamination Forms Air Contamination. Commonly presented …

Inspecting Your Hydraulic Cylinder

Hydraulic Cylinders are used in challenging environments that cause additional wear and tear on the cylinder and components. Following a regular inspection and maintenance schedule can improve hydraulic cylinder performance, prevent cylinder failure and decrease unplanned downtime. Tips for Identifying Issues with Hydraulic Cylinders Any piece of equipment or machinery brought down for inspection, maintenance, …

Top 4 Causes of Hydraulic Cylinder Failure

Listed below are the top 4 causes of cylinder failure. A proper equipment inspection, regular training, and a preventative maintenance plan can all decrease the chances of these common cylinder failures. 1. Sideloading Sideloading is the most common cause of wear and cylinder failure. A common result of sideloading is cylinder misalignment, which creates an …