The preventive maintenance is carried out on hydraulic systems to keep them in a perfect working condition at all times. However, faults or breakdowns do occur in hydraulic systems, which have to be traced and corrected with minimum delay and expense. Table below gives pump malfunctions and their potential causes and rectification.
| Disturbances | Possible causes | Rectification |
| Loud pump noise | Cavitation | -Clean dirty strainer/filters -Replace defective filters -Use filter of correct size -Change system fluid -Maintain fluid level in reservoir -Warm up fluid, if too cold -Clean reservoir breather vent -Correct drive motor speed |
| Hot pump | Hot fluid | -Increase reservoir capacity -Change system fluid -Change filters -Clean/replace cooler |
| Low pump discharge | Low flow | -Replace with correct type -Set valve correctly -Replace or overhaul -Tighten leaking connections -Adjust swash plate angle correctly |
| Pump slows down or stalls | Low voltage supply | -Provide correct power supply |
| Pump slows down or stalls | Drive motor in Star connection | -Re-wire in Delta connection |
| Motor turns backwards | Phase reversal | Interchange any two phases |
| Motor erratic/ not operating | Wrong motor wiring, | -Re-configure wiring |
| Motor erratic/ not operating | Wrong power supply | -Provide correct power supply |
References:
Categories of malfunctions in hydraulic systems in terms of its general disturbances, and their possible causes and rectification are presented in the above books. Further, the component-wise malfunctions and their potential causes and rectification are also presented.
Joji Parambath
Director
Fluidsys Training Centre
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