Preventive Maintenance of a Hydraulic System

For proper maintenance and durability of a hydraulic system, certain preventive measures need to be taken. Preventive maintenance of a hydraulic system plays a vital role to eliminate most problems related to hydraulic components failure. If followed properly, preventive maintenance is very simple and just few basic tasks. However this has to be followed by all manufactures and as well uses of hydraulic machines. Preventive maintenance program should be considered as a performance oriented program. In order to develop a preventive maintenance program for your hydraulic system, the following list of tasks need to be completed by the personal who takes care of the hydraulic system:

• Change the hydraulic filter, once in a while.
• Obtain a sample of hydraulic fluid .
• Obtain a sample of hydraulic fluid .
• Check the working of hydraulic actuators.
• Clean the inside of a hydraulic reservoir.
• Clean the outside of a hydraulic reservoir.
• Check hydraulic pressures and record the values.
• Check pump and record the pump flow.
• Check hydraulic hoses, hydraulic fittings and tubes.
• Check and record voltage reading. The voltage reading should be recorded to proportional or servo valves.
• Check and record vacuum on the pump's suction side .
• Check and record amperage on the main pump motor.
• Check machine cycle time and record.

Preventive maintenance is the basic support that any hydraulically operated system or machine must have so that the component's life is maximized and the system's failure is reduced. Preventive maintenance procedures are usually properly written and this should be followed in a proper way if you want your equipment to operate at its full potential and life cycle. There should be an independent maintenance department to control a hydraulic system.