Servicing Hydraulic Cylinders In-House
Hydraulic cylinders are fairly easy to work with. They can be fixed at your facility with the right equipment and as a result, many people carry out hydraulic cylinder repairs in-house. The main drawback, however, is that most people do not know how to diagnose different problem with hydraulic cylinders. In any case, many people will wait until the damage has occurred to visible extents. The following are some areas one can look at to ascertain whether they will need hydraulic cylinder services in the near future or their machine is in good working condition.
Piston seal
These are the most common hydraulic cylinder repairs done by many people themselves. Piston seals can be bought and replaced if you notice it is eroded or beginning to wear out. This is a temporary fix though. Hydraulic cylinder services experts will replace the entire barrel and piston easily for a more permanent fix.
Rod
It is important to check whether your rods are straight. Bent rods are often an indication of a much bigger problem. A rod's straightness can be checked by placing it on rollers and using a dial gauge, measuring the run-out. Rods can easily be straightened without having to replace them. You should, however, check first whether the chrome surface of the rod is also damaged before deciding to simply straighten the rod. The chrome surface largely dictates the life of the rods.
Barrel
You should also check the barrel of your cylinder regularly. Usually, piston barrels become scored with time or they may begin getting pitted. Such barrels can be either replaced or honed. When a barrel is honed, it must be done so evenly over the entire length to ensure uniformity and therefore effectiveness.
Piston
Several minor scores on a piston are not necessarily an indication of trouble. This is expected and you should not require hydraulic cylinder repairs for this. This is because the piston works in contact directly with the cylinder bore and is therefore subject to several abrasions. Any scoring that, in effect, reduces the diameter of the piston making it less than the nominal diameter of the bore, is detrimental. Such a situation can cause several dangerous accidents including the diesel effect. The diesel effect is whereby air is forced into the cylinder piston. On compression, the air expands and also rubs against the walls causing a spark. If your cylinder was operating with fuel, such a spark may cause an internal explosion that could completely ruin the cylinder.
For more information, contact a company like BMI Engineering Pty Ltd.