The hydraulic pump may break down during operation by particulate contamination, cavitation, pressure issues or other issues. Whether you should repair or replace the hydraulic pump, this needs to be decided based on the specific situation.
From this article, we will explain to you the common fault signs for hydraulic pumps and different factors affecting repair and replacing. And you can also learn how to maintain your hydraulic pumps and improve operational efficiency for your manufacturing process.
Why Do You Need to Repair or Replace a Hydraulic Pump?
The hydraulic pump is the core component of the entire hydraulic system, failure of the hydraulic pump will reduce operating speed and even affect the efficiency of the entire hydraulic system. If you do not repair or replace the faulty hydraulic pump in time, the entire hydraulic equipment may need to be replaced and you will suffer huge losses.
Fault Signs for the Hydraulic Pump
When a hydraulic pump fails, you can generally notice some obvious fault signs, which can remind you to check the hydraulic pump in time. But some internal failure problems such as internal wear, internal leaks or hydraulic fluid levels won’t easily be discovered.
Below we will show you some common fault signs and you need to regularly monitor and promptly repair or replace the hydraulic pump to avoid reducing operating efficiency.
Fluid Contamination
Sources of fluid contamination include external and internal. If the hydraulic fluid turns milky white or other uncommon colors, the hydraulic oil has deteriorated and the internal components of the hydraulic pump have been worn. When you change the hydraulic fluid, dirt and debris may accidentally get into the hydraulic fluid and be trapped in the hydraulic pump. And fluid contamination can also be caused by inadequate seals.
In addition, internal fluid contamination is usually caused by debris left in the hydraulic pump, which isn’t cleaned up before using.
Excessive Temperature
Temperature is an important indicator for judging whether a hydraulic pump is faulty. During operation, reservoir airflow obstructions and heat exchanger core blockage all can cause excessive temperature.
Excessive temperature will increase the hydraulic fluid’s temperature, which will reduce its viscosity and increase the risk of leakage. Once the operating temperature of the hydraulic pump exceeds 180 °F for a long time, the operating speed of your hydraulic equipment will be greatly reduced and the pump will be damaged.
Fluid Leaks Issues
External Leaks
External leaks are the most obvious signs of hydraulic pump failure because you can clearly discover fluid on the hydraulic pump housing’s surface. External leaks are usually caused by cracked pumps or inadequate seals such as tearing, breaking of seals and gaskets.
Internal Leaks
Internal leaks are led by internal pump’s component damage and you need to monitor internal pressure and flow through professional flow meters or ultrasonic detectors.
For example, if the system pressure drops rapidly after it stops working, it means there is an internal leak. In addition, if the pump flow rate is below standard, it may also indicate the leak of internal hydraulic fluid.
Unusual Loud Noises
If you hear unusual loud noises when the hydraulic pump is running, your hydraulic pump has cavitation issues and these noises are from vapor bubbles forming and collapsing.
Cavitation issues in your hydraulic pumps are usually caused by pipe, filter clogged or
low fluid pressure and flow.
Once you discover cavitation problems, you need to check if internal components of hydraulic pumps are damaged. For example, cavitation in hydraulic gear pumps will harm pump housing and gears, corrosion spots will be found on the surface. And you should repair or replace pumps as soon as possible, otherwise corrosion area will increase and affect hydraulic pump‘s operating efficiency.
Severe wear and tear
Severe wear and tear usually occurs inside hydraulic pumps, worn material breaks off components and metal particles will appear in the hydraulic fluid, which will make hydraulic fluid deteriorate. Obviously this issue can seriously affect operating efficiency and lifespan of your hydraulic pumps.
And wear and tear have some different effects on different types of hydraulic pumps. For internal gear pumps, severe scratches or grooves will appear on the gear groove surface, and the contact surface between pump body and gear tooth top circle will be worn. For hydraulic piston pumps, clearance between plunger and cylinder bore will be much larger than normal and hydraulic pumps will vibrate more than normal.
Different factors Affecting the Decision to Repair and Replacing 
Cost
Price is always an important factor affecting your decision to repair or replace your hydraulic pumps. Generally speaking, the cost of repairing will be lower than replacing a new hydraulic pump and this solution can greatly reduce the overall downtime of hydraulic equipment. However, your best option is to replace the broken hydraulic pump when the repair cost exceeds half your replacement price.
Usage Time
Every hydraulic pump has its own service life. After using the hydraulic pump for a long time,
hydraulic pumps’ pressure will continue to drop, hydraulic fluid temperature will rise abnormally, and even cracks will appear on the surface of pumps. You need to replace the hydraulic pump with a new one for long usage time, which can help your hydraulic equipment recover normal work efficiency.
Efficiency of the Entire Hydraulic System
If your hydraulic pump is experiencing minor issues such as seal deterioration, unusual noises or loose components, you just need to repair specific components of hydraulic pumps. But when the broken hydraulic pump affects the entire hydraulic system, you should replace the old hydraulic pump as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will incur high downtime and repair costs, and may even cause safety issues.
Conclusion
Timely and proper repair or replacement are necessary for your hydraulic system’s efficient and stable operation. After reading this article, I guess you must know specific fault signs about hydraulic pumps about repairing or replacing your broken pumps as soon as possible. In addition, you may also figure out how to choose the suitable decision according to your specific situation. If you want to know more about hydraulic pumps or need to replace a new hydraulic pump, please contact Target and we are pleased to assist you.
FAQ
What are some tips to help maintain the hydraulic pump?
For one thing, you can regularly check the internal pipes for hydraulic fluid leaks, monitor fluid pressure, flow and operating temperature to see if they are at normal levels. For another, you also need to pay attention to whether the hydraulic oil changes color. Moreover, you should clean or replace filters regularly and prevent dirt or metal particles from entering the fluid and wearing out internal components of hydraulic pumps.
