Mishandling heavy equipment can have serious, potentially disastrous consequences, especially when it comes to their hydraulics. It’s important to remember that most maintenance, even some of the most basic tasks, should be completed by an authorized dealer or hydraulics specialist.
Because of the potential hazards associated with hydraulic equipment, turning to the experts to service your equipment saves time, money, and reduces the risk of improper assemblies, unsafe patches, or catastrophic system failures.
With the goal of spreading awareness and improving hydraulic safety, we answered 14 of the highest-searched questions regarding hydraulic systems and hose maintenance:
The short answer is no.
Duct tape (or any other type of tape) will not hold up under hydraulic pressure and will cause pinhole leaks and bursts. If your hydraulic hose is leaking due to a pinhole leak, it’s important to contact your authorized hose dealer for a replacement.
If you’re performing maintenance on your heavy equipment, relieving system pressure is an important step. It’s very important that the machine is off so the hydraulic pump is not active.
Relieving a hydraulic system's pressure can differ depending on the type of machine and the manufacturer. Contact the dealer of your machine for the proper instruction and guidance.
When cutting a hose, rubber and steel fragments, produced from the blade, settle in the hose and can compromise the entire system. Before installing a new or freshly cut hose, be sure to use a hose cleaning kit or see your authorized hose dealer for guidance.
The simple answer is no.
Once damage occurs, the initial integrity of the system or hose is compromised and replacement is mandatory for the safety of the machine and its operator.
The cost of a hydraulic hose can vary depending on its:
It’s imperative that you contact an authorized dealer for guidance on which types of hoses and protective covers fit your needs.
When line-of-sight or next-level abrasion protection is required, we recommending protecting your hydraulic hose with a Diamondback sleeve, which are tested and proven to meet abrasion standards (ISO 6945 and ASTM D6770) as well as operator “line-of-sight” specifications EN02 norm 833, EN 414, ISO Reg. 3457-2003.
Crimping hydraulic hoses should only be done by authorized dealers who have the proper tooling and training needed.
Hydraulic hose fittings should never be crimped at home.
Several considerations should go into choosing new hydraulic fittings. It's important to consult an authorized dealer to ensure that the new fittings are compatible with your hoses material type and pressure rating. When it comes to installing these fittings, authorized dealers utilize specialized tooling to ensure they are properly and safely crimped. Never attempt to crimp hydraulic hose fittings at home.
While it’s recommended that you contact an authorized hose dealer to cut and install new hydraulic hoses. If you choose to cut new hydraulic hoses, it’s important to utilize the proper cutting equipment.
To prevent debris from contaminating your hose, ensure you’re using a recommended chop saw and cut-off saw blade that’s rated for cutting hoses. For an easier and more streamlined approach, contact an authorized dealer that is equipped with specialized saws and tools designed to ensure hose integrity and cleanliness.
Hydraulic hoses cannot be fixed if damage has occurred. Trying to mend, patch, or otherwise fix a damaged hose will result in excessive machine damage and operator injury.
If damage has occurred to one of your hydraulic hoses, its integrity has been compromised and is no longer safe to use. For the safety of your staff and equipment, it’s imperative that you contact your dealer for a suitable replacement and installation.
If you find yourself needing new or replacement hoses for your hydraulic systems, measuring those hydraulic hoses can be challenging. For existing hoses, set the hose straight and measure from end to end. Be sure to add your fittings lengths as well to ensure you’re calculating the proper length of the hose.
If you’re routing new hoses, identify the connection points the hose will be routed to and from and measure between those points keeping in mind the machine's other components and its ambient conditions, framing, and any pinch points that could arise while the machine is in operation.
Adequately protecting your hydraulic hoses depends on a number of factors. Be mindful of ambient conditions such as abrasion, heat, and chemical washdown. For the highest level of protection, ensure you’re incorporating a protective wrap or sleeve, such as Python’s 5601 Sidewinder, or Diamondback Pro Sleeves.
Splicing hydraulic hoses is not recommended and should never be attempted at home. Contact your authorized hose dealer about alternative solutions.
Leaking hydraulic hoses present a real danger to the safety of the machine and its operator. Attempting to repair a leaking hydraulic hose at home is never recommended and will not adequately protect your equipment or operator. To avoid costly downtime and reduce the risk of operator injury it’s important to contact your dealer for a replacement hose.
Hydraulic hoses are designed exclusively to operate with hydraulic fluid and should only be used for hydraulic applications.
Hoses must be rated for the fluid/gas they are transporting. Gasoline requires specific, anti-static rubber lining on the inside of a hose to properly protect the hose. Propane also requires a specialized liner to transfer the propane in its various states of matter.
Hydraulic lines are meant for hydraulic fluid, keep the other gasses and liquids away and contact your authorized dealer for guidance on hose application.
Bleeding your hydraulic lines is an important step of the installation process and should be handled by the professionals. Since this process can differ depending on the type of machine, contact your dealer for the proper instruction and step-by-step guidance.
To maximize the efficiency, safety, and lifespan of your hydraulic system, it’s important to have authorized professionals perform regularly scheduled maintenance and upgrades to your equipment.
When completing routine maintenance at home, it’s also imperative to have an open line of communication with your dealer and ensure you follow their step-by-step guidance closely. Remember, replacing a hydraulic hose or adding a protective cover to existing lines is a lot less expensive than having to buy a new machine or pay for costly medical bills.
For more information on protective solutions for hydraulic hoses, contact us today or check out the following blogs & video resources: