In a previous post, I described the danger associated with the intensification of pressure in a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. In this post, I will explain how to use the intensification effect to test the integrity of the piston seal in a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. But before attempting this test procedure, it is absolutely essential that the danger associated with pressure … Read more

A question I’m asked regularly is “What is the best way to test the integrity of the piston seal in a double-acting hydraulic cylinder?”

There is a simple bench-test for doing this but it involves the intensification of pressure in the cylinder. While the test procedure is safe if you understand the concept of intensification in a hydraulic cylinder – … Read more

In a previous blog post I discussed the true cost of hydraulic oil leaks. In the case of oil leaks, the cost areas that need to be considered include:

Make-up fluid;
Clean-up;
Disposal;
Contaminant ingress; and
Safety.

But what about hydraulics’ fluid power cousin – pneumatics? One of the advantages that pneumatics has over hydraulics is its clean-ness. Air leaks … Read more