Hydraulic systems use pressurized fluid to perform tasks like braking and lifting loads with cranes. The force multiplier effects of hydraulic systems are enormous and are precisely what make them indispensable to any heavy equipment operator.
What is a Hydraulic System?
 
A hydraulic system relies on Pascal’s principle: i.e. pressure applied at a point of an incompressible fluid is transmitted equally to all parts of the fluid.
 
Pressure applied at one point in a fluid can be used to move something, usually a piston on the other side of the fluid. Because of Pascal’s principle, a small force applied to a small area of fluid can be used to lift a much heavier object on a wider area of the fluid. Forklifts, liftgates, and even cranes make extensive use of hydraulics to lift heavy loads with the application of relatively small forces.

Benefits of Hydraulic System

Hydraulic systems have three major benefits:
  • Reliability
  • Power density
  • Versatility ​

Reliability
As hydraulics rely on the principle of incompressibility, keeping the system closed and the fluid free of impurities will greatly aid in maintaining its reliability.

Power Density
Hydraulic systems output far more power than is applied to the system. You can lift thousands of pounds just by moving a joystick with your finger.
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Versatile Control
Early hydraulic systems were unidirectional but thanks to advancements in electronics and precision engineering, modern hydraulic systems can transmit power in multiple directions.

How Hydraulic Systems Work

Hydraulic systems rely on cylinders, tubes, and hydraulic power units (HPUs).
Hydraulic Cylinders Systems

A hydraulic cylinder system uses two cylinders, a larger and a smaller one. Force is applied to the smaller cylinder and transmitted through the fluid to the larger cylinder on which a load is usually placed.
 
The force applied on the smaller cylinder must go farther than the movement caused by the larger cylinder in order to make the larger cylinder move. If the smaller cylinder goes down by a foot, the larger cylinder will be pushed up by less than a foot. 
Hydraulic Systems with Hydraulic Power Units
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Hydraulic power units use pumps and pressurized fluids instead of cylinders. This eliminates the distance a fluid travels as a factor and makes for a more compact and powerful hydraulic system.
 
A vast majority of hydraulic systems on heavy equipment use HPUs instead of cylinders.

How do Heavy Equipment Hydraulic Systems operate?

The HPU contains a pump, motor, and fluid reservoir. These are all the components necessary for the functioning of a hydraulic system. The pump and motor provide all the energy the system needs to start functioning. ​The applications of hydraulic systems in heavy equipment are numerous.

Here are a few examples:

  • Cranes use hydraulic systems to lift heavy loads
  • Moving the loader bucket
  • Powering the tracks of tracked backhoes
  • Raising and lowering the beds of dump trucks

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Hydraulic System Issues

A malfunctioning hydraulic system can be quite disruptive given how integral it is to the function of most heavy equipment. 

Points of failure can be in any of the HPU’s parts:
  • The motor
  • The pump
  • The reservoir
 
Signs of a malfunctioning hydraulic system include:
  •  Errors in the indication of hydraulic pressure
  • Overheating
  • Strange noises
  • Poor and slow operation
  • Overheating
  • Oil flow rate problems
See to it that your malfunctioning hydraulic system is promptly serviced to prevent the problems from ballooning.​
Hydraulic Failure or Sluggish Operation
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A complete failure isn’t the only sign of a hydraulic system in trouble. If operations take a lot longer than normal and the motions are jerky, you need to get it looked at.
Inadequate Hydraulic Pressures
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Pump issues and air leaking into the system cause the hydraulic fluid to be insufficiently pressurized and in turn crippling or greatly undermining the efficient functioning of your hydraulic system.
Excessive Heat

Overheating is always a sign of trouble in any system.  Contaminants in the hydraulic fluid are a major contributor to overheating as they force the pump to work so much harder to pressurize the fluid.
 
This in turn makes the pump overheat due to the extra strain. Left unfixed, the pump will eventually break down.
Unusual Operation Noise
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Unusual noises from the HPU are reliable indicators of a malfunction. Moreover, the source of the noise helps in pinpointing the problem:
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  • A noisy pump means the pump itself has worn out or air has entered the system.
  • A noisy motor indicates damage.
  • Noisy relief valves indicate poor installation or worn poppets.
 
Our experienced technicians can fix all kinds of problems in your hydraulic HPU in our shop or on-site.
Hydraulic Oil Flow Problems
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Sometimes there’s:
  • Too much oil flowing
  • Too little oil flowing
  • No oil flowing at all
 
Oil flow rate problems stem from the pump. They are often caused by: 
  • Malfunctioning motors
  • Hydraulic fluid failing to reach the pump
  • Damage
  • Poor design and construction
  • Sheared couplings
  • Reverse rotation of the pump
  • Hydraulic oil bypassing the pump entirely.

​Contact​

When you need your heavy equipment repaired in a pinch, we are your best option. Need emergency repairs? We’ll do it. Need the repairs done on-site? We’ll do it. Need repairs at a reasonable price? We will do it.
Heavy Equipment Repair Services Reno
Phone: (775)-242-7209​