When you have a piece of equipment that runs on hydraulic power, understanding the parts of the system and how they all work are critical to making repairs or restoring it back to new condition if it has been damaged. In some situations, parts may not be available or there may be a way to repair the parts in the system cheaper than replacing them.

Determining What Needs to be Repaired or Replaced

The first step in the process is always the diagnostic inspection of the equipment. If you don't know what needs to be repaired or replaced, you will not have a place to start. There are a lot of parts in the system and understanding what they do is important. If you do not know the difference between the hydraulic pump and a cylinder, you would be better getting a qualified technician to look at the equipment for you.

Machine Work And Your Equipment

There are a lot of things that may require machine work in the hydraulic system. From replacing seals and polishing cylinders to making lines that can hold up under the high pressure in the system. A machine shop that specializes in hydraulics is a good place to start. Talk to the foreman or owner at the shop and explain what you need to be done. They can tell you if it is better to repair or replace the component and if they can do the work you need. If you have very large equipment that needs repair, you may want to hire a mobile repair service to come to you. They have a lot of equipment with them to make repairs in the field but can remove parts and take them to the shop to be repaired as well if need be.

Is It All The Same?

The principles used in hydraulics are the same but the parts used to achieve the end result may not be. In most systems, there is a pump that is driven either electrically or off an engine, the hoses that the hydraulic oil runs through, control valves, and the item actuated. That might be a cylinder, a hydraulic valve or an actuator of some sort. The pump moves the hydraulic oil through the lines to the control valves. Opening a valve through a candle, cable or electric switch lets oil through to move the actuated item. The entire system is under extreme pressure and the tolerances on valves, pumps, and cylinders are very precise to ensure that the pressure does not escape by a seal. Leaks can be the downfall of the system and air in it will cause it to not work. Machine shops that work with this equipment understand the need for precision so find one that deals with hydraulics regularly when you start looking for a place to get the repairs you need to be completed.