Your machine’s hydraulic system converts power from the engine into hydraulic force, enabling motion for digging, lifting, and maneuvering. The hydraulic hoses are responsible for delivering the fluid that makes those movements possible. They are critical to your equipment’s performance, and their failure can lead to serious consequences, including damage to other components, costly downtime, and expensive repairs.
To maximize your uptime and ensure your machines operate at their best, follow our tips for hydraulic hose and hydraulic system maintenance:
Jobsite conditions are often harsh and unforgiving. Debris like rebar, rock, pieces of concrete, and more can cut, tear, or nick your hydraulic hose. If they are exposed to the elements, your hoses have to be covered with a protective shield to reduce the possibilities of damage during normal operation.
We recommend checking your hydraulic hoses and overall system daily as part of your maintenance routine. Watch out for any visible signs of excessive wear, and ensure that all components are functioning properly. If you notice abnormal wear and tear, broken hoses, strange sounds, or anything else out of the ordinary, replace or repair your hoses or other components before they break completely.
One of the most common culprits behind hydraulic hose failure is abrasion. When your hose is rubbing against another hose, surface, or component, it will eventually wear away its outer layers, damaging it to the point of leaking or breaking. To prevent problems caused by abrasion, keep the hoses away from pivot points or other spots that can lead to rubbing.
In addition to abrasion, another cause of hydraulic hose failure is high temperatures. We suggest not routing your hoses through the hottest parts of your machine. When hoses are exposed to extreme temperatures, they will start to stiffen. The inner tube of the hose may harden and crack, causing leakage and eventual breakage.
Not matter how consistent you are with hydraulic system maintenance, your hoses and other components will slowly start to break down, and small fragments and particles can enter your fluid. If not properly filtered out, this contamination will lead to accelerated wear, cuts, and abrasion inside your hydraulic hoses. To prevent system failure, it’s critical that you replace your filters at the intervals outlined in your owner’s manual.
The fluid you run in your hydraulic system has to be compatible with your hoses. If it isn’t, you risk a range of complications, including hose disintegration, swelling, and leaking. These issues can grow into much larger problems like system contamination and catastrophic failure.
If you have any questions about hydraulic hose failure, or hydraulic system maintenance in general, contact our team today!
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