Proper maintenance of your cylinders is essential for the optimal functionality of your hydraulic system. If you neglect this barrel, eventual failure of the entire structure will occur over time. This degradation could necessitate replacement and repair of multiple components, and your total equipment management expenses will increase. On the other hand, good upkeep practices will promote smooth functionality and ideal efficiency. Here are some guidelines to help you maintain your hydraulic cylinders and prolong their lifespans.

Ensure Fluid Cleanliness

You should keep the oil in your hydraulic system clean. Unfortunately, most equipment and machinery owners are not keen on this maintenance process. Therefore, their hydraulic systems experience chronic failures because of this simple issue. You should note that dirt particles and metal fillings from the equipment can find their way into your oil. If these are not eliminated, they will keep revolving in the cylinder. Their abrasive action will cause pitting of the surfaces. Also, dirty fluid does not perform with efficiency. For the best results, you should install high-efficiency filters in your hydraulic system. Remember to change them as required. In most systems, the differential pressure gauge or digital pop-up will indicate clogging of the filter.

Perform Regular Inspection

You should examine your hydraulic cylinders for signs of damage. In most cases, these components deteriorate gradually before actual failure. Often, the degradation will begin in a small section and eventually spread to the entire hydraulic system. If you are keen on inspections, you will recognise the onset of problems and resolve the malfunctions before escalation. In general, you should check the cylinder for corrosion. This deterioration indicates the presence of moisture in the fluid or the surroundings. Cleaning the damage and resolving the source of moisture will cause an improvement. You should also take note of uneven wear and pitting of the cylinder and the attached accessories. Honing, polishing or chrome plating can resolve unusual wear. 

Rotate Your Cylinders

Finally, you should consider purchasing multiple cylinders for your hydraulic equipment and rotating them regularly. In general, most machinery owners and operators fail to perform the recommended maintenance work because they cannot afford the downtime. Therefore, the installed cylinders are used without proper care and end up failing prematurely. When you have multiple cylinders, you can remove the component and place an alternative. This practice will give you enough time to disassemble, inspect and repair the cylinder for optimal performance.

If your hydraulic cylinder is showing signs of imminent failure, consult a hydraulic cylinder honing expert for guidance on replacement or rebuilding. 

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