Contaminants of hydraulic oil are broadly defined as any substance that impairs the proper functioning of the fluid. Air fits this definition and therefore when air becomes entrained in the oil, corrective action is required to prevent damage to both the oil and the other components in the hydraulic system.

Air can be present in four forms:

1. Free air … Read more

If you read my previous blog post about hydraulics troubleshooting, you’ll recall I told the story of a monkey caught in an old Indian monkey trap. This story was an analogy for the importance of both knowledge AND process for a successful troubleshooting outcome. In response, one of our members sent me this:

“That is a great analogy. I am … Read more

One of our members wrote me this question:

“Our hydraulic power units are Kubota 86 hp and Deutz 76 hp 4 cylinder diesel systems. We use a 40 GPM gear pump with a flow divider valve to create two circuits of 20 GPM, each with a variable flow control. We have a diverter valve upstream to combine flows if needed. … Read more