In The Hydraulic Troubleshooting Handbook, I explain 12 principles which must be adhered to in order to solve any hydraulic problem effectively. Troubleshooting Principle #1 is: check and eliminate the easy things first. The benefits of this mandatory first step are clearly illustrated by a troubleshooting situation I was involved in recently.
The machine in question had a complex … Read more
In this previous post on hydrostatic transmissions, I outlined the theory and technique for using case drain flow to determine the condition of a hydrostatic transmission pump and motor.
In response to this post, some readers thought that the function of the flushing valve warranted discussion, while others were still confused about the influence of the charge pump when … Read more
Here’s the scene for an unusual but instructive hydraulic troubleshooting story:
The end of the month was just a few days away when an OEM customer called and advised its hydraulic cylinder manufacturer that the boom extension cylinder on a rough terrain forklift was SQUEALING. This single-stage cylinder was 6″ bore x 3″ rod x 14′ stroke. The OEM was … Read more