Key Signs Your Hydraulic Pump Needs Repair

There are many things that can go wrong with a hydraulic pump, and when this happens, your work screeches to a halt. To not loose productivity, it is important to continuously monitor your pump and conduct maintenance when necessary.

So, what are some signs that your hydraulic pump needs repair?

Some of the most common signals of needed repair include excessive noise, external and internal leakage, excessive heat, and loss of output flow and pressure.

Below, we will discuss these signals in more detail. If your hydraulic pump is experiencing any of these, it is important to get it serviced to ensure the continued operation and performance of your equipment.

Excessive Noise

Excessive noise such as a grinding or banging sound coming from your hydraulic pump should be concerning. Two common cases for excessive noise include aeration and cavitation. Aeration occurs when there are air leaks in the hydraulic system through areas such as fittings and/or seals. This air mixes with hydraulic solution in the form of bubbles and can cause component damage, lubrication loss, seal burning, and more.

Cavitation, on the other hand, occurs when vapor pressure becomes more than absolute pressure by there not being enough fluid supplied to meet the demand of the hydraulic pump. When this happens, gas bubbles form that then implode due to rapid changes in pressure. When these gas bubbles implode repeatedly, this creates significant wear and damage to the hydraulic pump. Both aeration and cavitation can cause critical damage, so if a hydraulic pump begins to make excessive noises, it is important to get the pump inspected for both.

External and Internal Fluid Leakage

There are two types of leaks that can occur in a hydraulic pump, external and internal. External leaks are much easier to detect than internal leaks because it is typically easy to see fluid puddles on the ground. External leaks are often caused by compromised or damaged seals, connections, and hoses. Some effects of these types of leaks include a loss in hydraulic pressure, waste of hydraulic fluid, and the potential to introduce contaminants and air into the pump via the damaged components which can then lead to even further issues.

Loss of Output Flow and Pressure

We won’t get too technical here, but the whole reason that hydraulic pumps function is due to output flow and pressure, so loosing even a portion of either of these means that your machinery is no longer operating at maximum efficiency or even operating at all. Circumstance that can cause a loss in flow or pressure include internal leaks or damage to essential components, specifically the compensator component which is what controls output flow.

Excessive Heat

All hydraulic pumps generate some heat, but there is a fine line between normal operational heat and excessive heat. Excessive heat is detrimental to pump functions and operation. There are many reasons that a hydraulic pump may overheat. These include aeration due to air leaks, internal leakage, a damaged heat exchanger unit which is essential to the cooling system of the pump, as well as filter clogs from excessive dirt and fluid contaminants causing pumps to work harder. Depending on the pump, overheating can result in either a lower viscosity due to thinner fluid or a higher viscosity due to oxidation. A lower viscosity causes leakage and less lubrication while a higher viscosity results in restricted flow and even more heat. Ultimately, overheating of hydraulic pumps typically leads to pump failure.

Summary

It is not always obvious when hydraulic pumps need maintenance and repair, but if you keep these factors in mind (excessive noise, fluid leakage, loss of output flow and pressure, and excessive heat), you can catch the signs of needed repair at the beginning of potential failure. This can save you money and productivity in the long run. Make sure to continuously monitor your pump and take it in for repairs when needed.

Industrial Hydraulic Repair Services

If your industrial hydraulic equipment has failed, or is showing signs of needing repair, the hydraulics experts at Servo Kinetics in Ann Arbor are here to help. With more than 45 years of experience in industrial hydraulic repair services, we promise you the highest quality hydraulic repairs at the lowest possible cost and fast turn-around.
Our hydraulic repair services include Vickers classic factory rebuilds, Beach Russ repair, reverse engineering services and much more including new pumps and motors. Contact one of our experts today.