A client recently asked me to explain a seal failure on a hydraulic ram. The ram had been removed from a hydraulic lift due to a leaking rod seal, but upon inspection, both the rod seal and the surface of the rod were found to be in serviceable condition.

Recall that a hydraulic ram, a.k.a. displacement cylinder, is a single-acting … Read more

During a recent conversation I had with a member who builds hydraulic power units, this observation was made: “Oil coolers are generally resisted by customers because of initial cost and maintenance, so fitting a bigger reservoir, when possible, is often the preferred solution.”

I recall coming across the very same resistance when I was building hydraulic power units for end-user … Read more

I recently came across an article outlining a failure that occurred on a hydraulic machine during the last northern winter. The extreme cold had caused the water present in the hydraulic oil to freeze on the surface of the installed suction strainer. When the hydraulic system was started the ice-clogged suction strainer imploded and the resulting debris destroyed the pump.… Read more