Manufacturer of Hydraulic Presses

5 Sure Ways To Lower Maintenance Costs of Hydraulic Presses

July 2, 2020

Is your hydraulic press performance suffering? Is your business experiencing downtime regularly?

Hydraulic presses are machines, and like any other machine, they do experience breakdown. For example, the flexible intake lines may collapse due to age or high fluid temperature (180+ degrees F) will damage the seals. It may also accelerate the degradation of the hydraulic fluid.

If you fail to detect the symptoms above and more, the damage will lead to system failure, and that is how your business suffers downtime. If you don’t want your business to experience any downtime and ensure the longevity of your hydraulic press, then you have come to the right place.

In this post, we’ll discuss the five sure ways of reducing maintenance costs of hydraulic presses.
 

1. Replace the Flexible Intake Lines Regularly


When operating a hydraulic press, the operator may hear a knocking sound. This noise is often caused by cavitation or aeration and occurs when air contaminates the hydraulic fluid. As the air in the hydraulic fluid compresses and decompresses as it circulates through the system, it creates noise.

What you need to know is that aeration accelerates the degradation of the hydraulic fluid. This leads to system component damage because of overheating, the burning of seals and loss of lubrication.

Air gets in the hydraulic fluid via the flexible intake like. For this reason, it’s essential to inspect the flexible intake lines regularly. If you discover the intake lines are worn, replace them. Don’t forget to ensure all fittings and clamps are tight.
 

2. Monitor and Maintain the Reservoir Fluid Level


When the hydraulic fluid temperature exceeds 180 degrees F, damage to the seals will occur. Operating the hydraulic press once it reaches this temperature should be avoided. The reason why fluid temperature reaches such high temperatures is that viscosity has fallen below the optimum value.

The high temperature is a result of anything that increases heat load or reduces the system ability to dissipate heat. Usually, the system dissipates heat through the reservoir. To prevent the rise in temperature and damage to system components, monitor the fluid temperature regularly. Make sure the temperature is at the correct level. Also, ensure there are obstructions to the airflow around the reservoir.

Such obstructions include debris or dirt.
 

3. Invest in a Split Seal Design


One of the most common problems that can lead to the breakdown of a hydraulic cylinder is a faulty seal. To ensure the entire production is not affected, invest in a split seal design. A split seal design reduces the seal replacement time by more than 40%, especially for endless V-ring seals.

This is unlike standard seals that require the crew to disassemble the equipment during the installation. Basically, what we are saying is that a split seal design can get your production online in the shortest time possible.

Besides saving you on maintenance costs, the split seal design is a high-performance seal. It provides a leak-free solution for a long time.
 

4. Have a Lubrication Schedule


The lubricant has a crucial role in the operation of your hydraulic system. First, it helps to reduce friction between the system parts such as gear teeth, roller bearings, gear worm wheels, plain bearings and shafts. These parts require the lubricant to have sufficient viscosity.

If the hydraulic press does not dissipate heat correctly, the lubricant’s viscosity will change. In fact, the lubricant will thin and disappear between the system parts. To lower your maintenance costs and protect your press, feed it clean lubricant between the moving parts.

Remember, no water or dirt should ever come into contact with the lubricant. Clean lubricant is honey-coloured, so keep it that way.
 

5. Get to Know Reputable Suppliers and Vendors


When problems arise in your production line, it’s important to find lasting solutions. They include high-quality replacement parts and technical specialists. Vendors and suppliers know their equipment best.

They know how it works plus the equipment’s design. These specialists can pick out problems from your description of the symptoms. They also have solutions and high-quality parts such as seals and lubricant for the moving parts.

To save on maintenance costs, and ensure the longevity of your hydraulic press, get to know reputable vendors/suppliers.
 

Final Thoughts about hydraulic press.

Decreased possibility of downtime of the production line can provide higher production results. At the same time, using high-quality parts such as seals will prolong the life of your hydraulic press. Remember, it’s better to do preventative maintenance and replace parts before they fail than make repairs when the system completely fails.