Hydraulics - Seafish

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By carrying out a regular maintenance programme you will
eliminate the more common problems and become aware
of special problems which are developing.
These problems can then be corrected before a breakdown
occurs.
The key maintenance problems are:
• Contaminated oil
• Poor filtration
• Incorrect oil
• Low oil level
• High oil temperature
• Leaks in pipe lines and at joints
• Faulty seals
Contaminated Oil
As I stated in Segment Five, 70% of the faults which occur in
hydraulic systems are a result of contamination of the oil of one
kind or another.
Some contamination will always occur but you should not add to
it by lack of care when adding oil to the system. Attention to the
following points is then important:
• Keep oil clean from the minute it is delivered to you.
• Store it in a clean, dry place.
• Always keep the lid on the container.
• Use a clean funnel fitted with a fine-mesh screen when
pouring oil from the container into the reservoir.
• Use lint-free cloth to wipe around the filler and breather.
• Use the correct oil as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Always plug disconnected hoses and the openings in any
component with clean plastic plugs when maintenance is
being carried out.
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