How To Avoid Damage To Hydraulic Motors From ‘Temperature Shock’

radial piston motor failureA client recently asked me to investigate and solve a recurring problem on a diving bell launch and recovery system. The system comprised of a hydraulic power unit, a bell winch, an umbilical winch and a guide-wire winch.

To launch the bell, the guide-wire winch is used to lower a clump weight to the seabed (the guide wires prevent the … Read more

How To Avoid ‘Dieseling’ In Hydraulic Cylinders

hydraulic cylinder failureI was recently engaged by a client to conduct failure analysis on a large (and expensive) hydraulic cylinder off an excavator. This hydraulic cylinder had been changed-out due to leaking rod seals after achieving only half of its expected service life.

Inspection revealed that apart from the rod seals, which had failed as a result of ‘dieseling’, the other parts … Read more