Tuesday, 24 January 2012

The way to Troubleshoot a Hydraulic Power Unit

By Todd Smith


A hydraulic power unit is a major part of many mobile and industrial systems. If you look around, you will find 1 or 2 applications of this unit in scissor lifts, plant trailers, access control systems, and business machinery. But since this is a mechanical device it is certain to encounter many obstacles after a point of time. It's always possible to call in a repair person but knowing straightforward things will help you to troubleshoot the unit yourself.

The first problem that may arise in the unit is excessive noise. The source of the noise can be traced to the motor, pump or the relief valve. Noise can happen due to cavities or formation of air bubbles in the fluid of the pump. You can replace the filters, clean the inlet points, and change the liquid and such like. You can try tightening the connections to stop leaks. Alignment of the unit can also take away the noise.

Another serious issue with the hydraulic power unit can be excessive heat. This too can happen in the relief valve, motor, pump, or the fluid. Try to determine if all of the connections are fine. Then check the load on the motor. The parts may also be worn out and so should get replaced. If the liquid is too hot, then see whether it is clean enough. Then see if the cooling system is normal. Damaged parts should get replaced to reduce the heat.

The 3rd problem that may arise is no flow in the hydraulic motor. For this, you need to see if the liquid is reaching the pump and if the pump is performing the right way. If the pump is not turning in the right direction or it is damaged, then there'll be no fluid flow too. You can replace the pump when necessary.

Any change in the pressure should also cause the hydraulic power unit to malfunction. If the valve is not changed accurately or there is a contamination in the fluid, the unit will also not function in the right way. You can see whether the pump is worn out.




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