How to Conduct Preventative Maintenance on a Hydraulic Power Unit

Hydraulic power units provide the energy necessary to run a huge variety of tools across numerous applications. While they can be found practically everywhere, it is an unfortunate fact that a large portion of these units are not being maintained properly. Preventative maintenance is a necessity to keep units running as long as possible, which is why it is so important that hydraulic power unit owners are aware of the need for maintenance. Whether you do it yourself, or hire a professional to do it, your hydraulic power unit needs maintenance.

The Basics of Hydraulic Power Unit Maintenance

When a hydraulic power unit breaks down, only a trained professional should conduct repairs. However, routine preventative maintenance is not quite so demanding a task. As long as you follow manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance, you should be able to conduct preventative maintenance on your own without risking the safety of those using the power unit.

The basics of general maintenance include:

Lubricate Electric Motors

The manufacturer of the electric motor is best equipped to explain the maintenance of a particular motor. Read the manual or contact the manufacturer to learn how to lubricate the motor and how often to do so. Lubricating the motor as recommended is required to keep the motor in good shape.

Clean or Change Filters

The filter on your power unit may have an indicator that lets you know when it needs to be cleaned or changed. Make sure to check the indicator directly after starting up the system to ensure you take care of it before operating the power unit.

If your unit does not have an indicator, check the manual of your power unit to determine how often you need to take care of the filter. For replacements, verify that you are replacing it with a similar type as indicated by the manufacturer. If you are cleaning the filter, be sure to follow the instructions for cleaning to ensure you remove all contaminants before reinstalling.

Clean Suction Strainers

The suction strainers on your machine probably need to be cleaned after the first 10 hours of use and then every 100 hours of use after that. The exact cleaning times may vary by manufacturer.

Maintain Oil Level in Reservoirs

You can check the reservoir to determine if oil needs to be added. Do this periodically, especially when you first start using the power unit, to ensure that the level does not drop lower than it should be. Ideally, check the reservoir after the first 100 hours of use.

Change the Oil

The oil in your hydraulic power unit needs to be changed based on the requirements of the manufacturer. Typically the oil will need to be changed somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 hours of use. The rate of oil changes will vary based on the demands put on the power unit, include the environment it is used in and the application that it is being used for.

Check the Oil

You want to make sure that the oil is not running too hot. You can tell oil has been running hot when it is much darker than new oil. It may also smell burnt.

Your Hydraulic System Maintenance Team

When your hydraulic power unit needs to run strong and long, it pays to have a professional maintenance team. We are your source for preventative maintenance and repairs, including checking and replacing hydraulic system components and custom power units.

If you own a hydraulic power unit in Tennessee, North Georgia or Southwest Virginia, please contact us. Let us help you ensure that your hydraulic system is always in good repair, reliable and effective. We are ready and waiting to get to work for you!