DIGGING IN

In Gear
Keep it Clean
Hydraulic challenges often traced to oil condition
Jim Alexander may be the most passionate person on the planet when it comes
to hydraulic oil. That’s why he gets so frustrated when he sees operators without
a high quality filter or gauge. After all, he says, 70% of all hydraulic oil failures are
due to dirty oil.
“Keep oil clean. With the gauge, green is good, yellow you better look after it,
and if it gets too red then you need to replace it. I can’t tell you how many people
I see in the trucking industry without a filter or a gauge,” said the 26-year veteran,
who works in sales for Parker Hannifin, based in Cleveland, Ohio.
One driver Alexander had worked with kept complaining that his pump was
always failing. He never checked the fluid, recalled Alexander. There were substantial
flecks of metal in it.
“All those pumps he destroyed would end up in the bottom of the tank. Every
time he’d put a new pump back in he’d suck all that junk back down into the
input and he’d destroy another pump,” he added in the recent presentation to the
Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC).
Part of the issue comes down to drivers being trained properly. “Just because a
guy has a [commercial licence] doesn’t mean he knows how to operate a vocational
truck,” said Alexander. And part of that training is ensuring drivers understand
how dangerous hydraulic oil can be. He showed TMC delegates a disturbing image
of flesh eaten away from a worker’s hand. The equipment needs adequate time to
cool before it’s worked on. Hydraulic oil temperatures can surpass 93 Celsius.
Other key measures for maintaining hydraulic oil include keeping shafts properly
lubricated, said Alexander. He also recommends using wet spline technology
versus grease technology. This provides a continuous bath of oil.
Heat and contamination are two other primary concerns when it comes to
hydraulic system failures. Finally, beware of cracked hoses. Alexander said they are
the number one cause of hydraulic oil fires. TT
Tire Change
Not all providers created equal
Gary Tatum, who spent 35 years as a senior tire engineer, has some tips about evaluating
the quality of your tire repair provider.
“Quality materials and quality workmanship add up to quality repairs,” said
Tatum, now regional sales manager at Patch Rubber.
Some of the first criteria to consider when evaluating a tire repair provider are
elements like training background. Look to spot technician certificates. Once that
passes the test, it’s time to take a look around the shop, said Tatum. Can you see
wall charts for the tires, and are they actually measuring for the repairs, or are they
just winging it?
“We’re looking to repair the tire, not just stop a leak,” he reminded a crowd at
the recent Technology and Maintenance Council meeting.
Other things to look for around the shop include the proper storage of materials.
Is it cool enough for the tires? Tatum said the temperature should be in the
neighbourhood of 20 Celsius. He recalled once seeing a shop store its tires in the
washroom because it was the only place cool enough in the facility.
“It still worked,” he laughed. TT
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