Welcome to our Hydraulic Doctor. The aim of this page
is to answer frequently asked questions you may have
regarding hydraulics. At Armada Marine Hydraulics,
we’re more than happy to help by offering advice
on many areas. If the question you have is not covered,
below, please email the Hydraulic Doctor here.
How
often do I need to renew the oil within my hydraulic
system?
Why do my hydraulic hoses keep bursting?
How hot should my hydraulic system be
getting?
What’s the best way of collecting
spilt hydraulic oil?
How often should I change my hydraulic
filters?
What grade of hydraulic oil should I
use?
Is hydraulic oil safe for my skin?
What are the advantages of stainless
steel fittings over steel plated?
Where can I get hydraulic fittings/parts?
What
is the difference between 2 wire & 4 wire hydraulic
hoses?
Can hydraulic hoses be fireproof?
How can I test my hydraulic system
for faults?
Why are there different pump and motor
designs in the market place?
When starting a system from new or
repair, what precautions do I need to take?
How often
do I need to renew the oil within my hydraulic system?
This is dependant on the oil temperature, the application,
work cycle and level of filtration installed within
the hydraulic circuit. To discuss in further detail,
please contact
our specialist team.
Why do my
hydraulic hoses keep bursting?
The most common reasons for hose bursts is the wrong
application, corrosion of the ferrules, high pressure
pulsing of the hydraulic installation, incorrect bend
radius of the installed hose and out of date hoses.
For more assistance and to discuss your hose requirements
please contact
us.
How hot should
my hydraulic system be getting?
The temperature of a hydraulic system relates to the
oil that is used within the system. Most hydraulic
systems use mineral based hydraulic oil, dependent
on its centistokes viscosity, you can determine how
hot the hydraulic system should be getting from the
oil manufacturers data sheet. As a guideline, you
have to consider the ambient temperature and the work
cycle of your hydraulic system and the original designers
allowance for heat transference. General figures for
a temperate climate (Northern Europe) use 32 grade
oil. For higher ambient temperatures use 46 grade
oil to give more stability under these conditions.
What’s
the best way of collecting spilt hydraulic oil?
Whenever breaking into any hydraulic system, you must
first consider these safety measures:
1) Is the system live?
2) Does the system have an inherent pressure i.e.
accumulators or systems underload
3) Also consider gravity
Isolate, if possible, using ball valves or steel caps.
If oil has been spilt, you can use granules, filter
pads and boom pads. To ensure you have these on hand,
visit www.armada24.co.uk
or call our sales team on 01326 375566.
How often
should I change my hydraulic filters?
You must always refer to the original manufacturer’s
official information. However most hydraulic systems
will have a return filter either with a visual clogged
indicator or electrical clogging indicator for your
observation.
What grade
of hydraulic oil should I use?
You should firstly consult your operators’ manual
for their recommendations. As a guide, small yacht
steering systems would use 15 grade mineral based
oil. Hydraulic systems in temperate conditions (northern
hemisphere) use 32 grade. In tropical conditions,
use 46 grade oil. There are occasions where flame
retardant oil would be required, in this case a synthetic
oil should be used. Caution is required with these
oils as they are toxic. When using any hydraulic oil
or lubricant, you must observe COSH information.
Is hydraulic
oil safe for my skin?
As with all oils, protective clothing should be worn
and COSH information will be available from the oil
supplier.
To purchase protective clothing, visit www.armada24.co.uk
or call our sales team on 01326 375566.
What are the
advantages of stainless steel fittings over steel
plated?
Stainless steel fittings and couplings are widely
used in marine & chemical environments. The corrosion
resistance of stainless steel offers great advantages
for the future removal and are aesthetically pleasing.
However when installing stainless steel components,
care must be taken to ensure a suitable anti-gawling
paste as stainless steel will lock up the coupling
and cause the user problems.
Steel plated fittings offer minimal corrosion resistance
and therefore when used within the marine industry,
rust and cause the end user problems when dismantling.
Steel plated fittings have cost advantages and used
in a non marine environment are both cost effective
and practical.
Where can
I get hydraulic fittings/parts?
All your hydraulic component needs are catered for
at www.armada24.co.uk
where we offer over 70,000 products and offer next
day delivery. If you prefer, or need assistance with
your order, you can contact our expert sales team
on 01326 375566
What is the
difference between 2 wire & 4 wire hydraulic hoses?
Marked on all hydraulic hoses is the following information:
• Date of manufacture
• Manufacturers name
• Working pressures
• DIN specification
In brief, the wire reinforcement integrated in the
hose assembly denotes its strength relative to working
pressure. The more wire reinforcement, the higher
the pressure relative to the bore of the hose.
For example
SAE100R2AT 2 wire 4SP Multispiral 4 wire
3/8” bore 330 bar wp 3/8” bore 460 bar
wp
1⁄2” bore SAE100R2AT 275 bar wp 1⁄2”
bore 440 bar wp
3⁄4” bore SAE100R2AT 215 bar wp 3⁄4”
bore 380 bar wp
1” bore SAE100R2AT 165 bar wp 1” bore
320 bar wp
1 1/4” bore SAE100R2AT 125 bar wp 1 1/4”
bore 240 bar wp
Please note when selecting a hose, care must be taken
as hydraulic systems can vary with the pulsing and
spikes generated within the system. Professional advice
should be sought.
Please contact
us regarding the selection of hoses as this is only
a small sample of the products available to satisfy
your requirements.
Can hydraulic
hoses be fireproof?
Yes however fireproofing of hoses is a complicated
matter. We offer a range of MSHA approved hoses which
are flame resistant to US MSHA Approval IC-188. To
cover the hydraulic range, please contact
us for the full range and related data sheets.
How can I
test my hydraulic system for faults?
The basic components to any hydraulic system are as
follows:
1. The prime mover (engine, electric motor etc)
2. Hydraulic pump pressure & flow
3. Control gear
4. Relief valve system pressure
5. Motor or cylinder etc
With any fault finding, if you break the system down
into manageable areas as above, you can identify the
location of the fault. To progress further please
contact us to discuss your exact requirements
and we will advise the best way to proceed.
Why are there
different pump and motor designs in the market place?
Basically the pumps and motors available in the marketplace
relate to a number of design factors:
• Working pressures
• Applications
• Selection of hydraulic fluid
• Noise level
• Available horse power
• Flexibility i.e. hydraulic pressure &
flow control which includes electrical control.
• Cost
We offer a design and consultancy facility which offers
full computer aided design. Contact
us for further information.
When starting
a system from new or repair, what precautions do I
need to take?
Firstly, you must consult the originators equipment
manual for starting procedures. However we do not
recommend any person without knowledge to start a
system as damage to the equipment, yourself and others
may result. If you would like advice, we would be
pleased to help just give us a ring <link to contact
page>.
DISCLAIMER
The hydraulic doctor is designed to offer guideline
advice for people within the industry. It is not designed
to provide comprehensive advice and we would always
recommend contacting us to discuss your requirements
before proceeding. Please contact
us.
