Hydraulic cylinders are used in many industries ranging from food and beverages, engineering, manufacturing to construction. They are also an integral part of heavy machinery excavators, loaders, backhoe booms, skid steer, wheel loader buckets, blade handlers, and more.
The unmatched power of hydraulic cylinders makes them crucial for enhancing on-site productivity.
But, like all other heavy equipment components, regular use leads to wear and tear and damages the hydraulic cylinder, rendering it inefficient and causing costly delays.
There are several tell-tale signs of significant hydraulic cylinder damage. Recognizing these warning signs before a complete failure saves you from paying for the repair, replacement, and unplanned stoppages.
Pay attention to these issues indicating that your hydraulic cylinder needs repairs.
If you spot fluid underneath the gland or moisture on the piston rod, it’s time to call in the repairman.
There could be several reasons for leakage.
Maybe the seals on the cylinder’s piston have worn out with time, and it is affecting their performance. Or there’s some internal damage to the cylinder’s piston or barrel.
Scrutinize the cylinder to find the reason behind the fluid leakage. Schedule fluid tests with a professional service like Yancey bros to check if the hydraulic fluid is contaminated.
Fluid contamination occurs due to the mixing of wear and tear particles from pumps or the accumulation of dirt and debris that clogs the filters.
This causes the fluid to leak past the rods and piston seals and into the surrounding areas.
Hydraulic cylinders are not supposed to make loud and unpleasant noises. So, if the cylinder sounds or feels like a jackhammer, chances are that there are air bubbles inside the hydraulic fluid or cylinder causing it to malfunction.
When the hydraulic circuit receives insufficient fluid, the pressure decreases, which causes the fluid to vaporize. Eventually, when the pressure returns, the cavity collapses that causes a loud knocking sound.
If you hear these unpleasant noises, it is time to repair your hydraulic cylinder, or it can start contaminating the fluid or burning of the seals.
Hydraulic cylinders consist of different types of seals that prevent fluid leakage and contamination. Excessive wear and tear, hot temperatures, improper installation, or fractures can damage the seals leading to complete failure.
In case of broken and eroded seals, you will see that the cylinder will start to leak fluids, including lubricants while allowing contaminants to enter the hydraulic cylinder.
Or you might notice corrosion on the seals as they are exposed to abrasive and harsh chemicals.
Repairing your hydraulic cylinder at the right time saves you from experiencing downtimes and spending money on a new cylinder.
Yancey Bros. Co. has over 500 technicians throughout the state of Georgia that specialize in hydraulics and retooling of cylinders. After catering to over 300 service bays throughout Georgia, you can trust our team to identify the root cause of the hydraulic cylinder malfunctioning.
We work on Cat hydraulic cylinders, but we can also service other makes and models of hydraulic cylinders.
