Seals play an integral role in the performance of your hydraulic system. Damaged seals can lead to a loss of power, which can cause significant damage to your industrial machinery.
When you are familiar with some of the reasons why seals commonly fail, you can implement routine inspections and a comprehensive maintenance program that will keep your seals in good condition in the future.
1. Hardening
Hydraulic seals are made from a flexible rubber material. It's critical that this rubber remains supple if you want your seals to function properly after they are installed. Seals that harden are more susceptible to crack or break when faced with the pressure that exists inside a hydraulic system.
Keep all seals in airtight packaging while in storage and lubricate each seal prior to installation if you want to reduce the likelihood of having seals harden and fail.
2. Scarring
You must use extreme caution when installing replacement hydraulic seals in your machinery. The tools that you use have the potential to cause damage to the seals. Improper tools or foreign materials in your workspace can cause scarring.
Scarring is the presence of cuts or nicks in the surface of a hydraulic seal. The easiest way to avoid scarring during installation is to utilize tools that are dedicated only to the installation of hydraulic seals. These tools should be wiped down with a lint-free cloth before they are used to eliminate any particles that could cause scarring.
3. Fracturing
Fracturing occurs when a hydraulic seal develops multiple cracks and begins to fall apart. Most instances of fracturing occur because poor materials were used during the manufacturing of the hydraulic seals.
It's important that you invest in quality seals from a reputable manufacturer if you want to avoid fracturing. Reputable manufacturers do not use low-grade materials in the construction of the hydraulic seals they sell.
It's worth spending the extra money required to purchase quality hydraulic seals when you consider the potential costs associated with equipment damage caused by failed hydraulic seals.
The condition and quality of your hydraulic seals can have a direct impact on the efficiency of your hydraulic equipment. You need to understand why hydraulic seals fail so that you can take action to prevent potential seal failure in the future.
Work with a reputable supplier to source quality seals, maintain the seals you have in storage, and use proper installation techniques to improve seal quality in your facility.
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