When it comes to sizing a conventional hydraulic reservoir, my motto and advice is the bigger the better. Because the greater the tank volume the longer the dwell time the oil has to give up contaminants – particles, water and most importantly of all, air. Sure, particles and water can and should be filtered out of the oil. Air can … Read more
Tag Archives: hydraulic tank
The Only Ideal Mounting Arrangement for a Hydraulic Pump
A pet hate of mine is hydraulic power units in which the pump has to ‘lift’ the oil into its intake. In other words, mounting the pump above the tank or more precisely, above minimum oil level. Like a suction strainer, it’s another ‘engineered in’ barrier which prevents the pump’s chambers from filling freely and completely.
According to most manufacturers, … Read more
One Part of a Hydraulic System That Should Not Be Painted
In chapter 13 of The Hydraulic Maintenance Handbook, I discuss the principle of engineering out issues that have the potential to cause recurring maintenance problems. Since maintenance occurs after the event, that is, after the machine is designed and built, this strategy is very much a retrospective one. Which means it’s desirable and preferable not to engineer in such … Read more