Common Causes for Hydraulic Hose Leaks |
Posted: April 15, 2019 |
When you’re busy on the farm or at a construction site using heavy machinery, you’re generally on a strict time schedule. You have to have the job done fast, and you want it done right with no problems. While much of the time the task at hand goes off without a hitch, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, you can find yourself with a hydraulic hose leak, leaving you scratching your head and wondering if you need to carry out a hydraulic hose repair. Hydraulic hoses are made of tough stuff, which is why many people can be confused as to why theirs is leaking. Why, if it’s so strong, is it making a mess everywhere with hydraulic fluid? Chances are, it’s not the hose, but the installation that’s to blame. Here are a few things to consider while you’re carrying out what you believe to be a hydraulic hose repair. 1. Have You Removed and Reinstalled the Fitting? Before you look at anything else, think about an instance where you or someone else may have removed and reinstalled the fitting. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to make a minor adjustment, and you spring a leak. It’s not a significant hydraulic hose repair to make, but it’s annoying nonetheless. There are many reasons why leaking after reinstalling the fitting can occur. If you removed a JIC or NPT fitting, you could strip the threads. Once that happens, you’ve made a channel for hydraulic fluid to flow down. During the manufacturing process, NPT and JIC fittings are leak-tight. Once you play with them, they tend not to be. If you, for some reason, need to play with those fittings, you need to fit an entirely new assembly to prevent a leak. 2. Have You Installed the Right O-Ring? Sometimes, a leak is as simple as the wrong O-ring, or one that’s not in place properly. If that’s the case, you’ll be pleased to know that you won’t have a significant hydraulic hose repair bill on your hands. O-rings are soft seals that stop hydraulic hoses from leaking. Like anything, they are not 100 percent perfect. If you don’t choose the right one, they can break down or fail. 3. Do You Use Clamps and Hose Supports? When you’re using any machinery with hydraulic hoses, they are under a lot of pressure. The machine vibrates as it works, and it’s not uncommon for this movement to cause the assembly of a hose to fail. If you’re about to carry out a hydraulic hose repair, take a look. Are there clamps and supports in place? These parts reduce stress and support pressurised fluid in the heavy hose lines. Without them, you’re bound to strike problems. 4. Are You Using the Right Hose for the Job? There may beright and wrong hoses for your machinery, even if you weren’t aware of that,to begin with. A common cause of needing to carry out a hydraulic hose repair is the wrong hose type in the assembly. If the hose is not long enough, it can leak. With not enough length, it can’t expand and contract which puts pressure on your fittings and hose covers. If you’re not sure what you need, see a hydraulic hose expert who will point you in the right direction. 5. Did You Clean Your Hose Parts Before Assembly? A common cause of hydraulic hose leaks is contamination. All it takes is for dirt and grime to get into your hydraulic hose and you can have a catastrophic failure on your hands. To avoid the annoyance of carrying out hydraulic hose repairs, clean your hose assemblies before installation. Use a high-pressure projectile or flushing system to clean all parts. By doing so, you’re reducing the risk of inner tube damage that results in a leak. If you don’t plan on installing the hose right away, use end caps to stop foreign matter getting inside the hose. Still Can’t Work It Out? Sometimes, no matter how much on-site troubleshooting you do, you still can’t get to the cause of the leak. If that’s the case, it might be time to refer to your owner’s manual or call a hydraulics expert. Time is money, so don’t waste too much of it trying to work out the problem on your own. Conclusion Believe it or not, not every hydraulic hose repair is going to be a significant undertaking. Sometimes, it’s as simple as replacing an O-ring, your fitting assembly, or adding clamps and hose supports. You may even need to look at changing your hose to something longer or more suitable for your needs, or cleaning the entire system to avoid foreign matter getting into the hose lines. It might take a bit of time to get to the bottom of the problem, but you’ll be happy to know it’s not always a complex problem that costs a fortune to repair. Author’s Bio My name is Theresa Le Roux, I am originally from Montreal, Canada but I have spent the last 5 years in beautiful New Zealand. I write Digital marketing articles for businesses that want a different perspective on subjects that are important to their content output. I regularly contribute articles to Clickthrough SEO New Zealand. I am a diehard Game of Thrones fan with a passion for novels and live music! My career goal is to one day write a novel of my own. Connect me via email [email protected].
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