If you’ve read The Hydraulic Troubleshooting Handbook, you’ll recall that I define hydraulic troubleshooting as a logical process of elimination which begins with checking the easy things first.

The emphasis I put on investigating the easy things first may seem so elementary your inclination may be to disregard this advice. Certainly, if you DO follow a logical process of … Read more

Continuous monitoring of the filter elements in a hydraulic system can provide valuable clues to the performance of the filter and the condition of the system. But before discussing this, let’s consider some of the advantages and disadvantages of common filter locations in a hydraulic system.

Pressure filtration

Locating filtering media in the pressure line provides maximum protection for components … Read more

A question I get asked a lot by equipment owners, is the procedure for storing spare hydraulic cylinders for an extended period. So here’s what I recommend:

–Always store fully retracted.
–Store indoors in a clean, dry area.
–Smear the internal surfaces of eye/clevis bushes or bearings with grease – particularly if they’re steel.
–Protect any exposed chrome on the … Read more