Restart the hydraulic pump after a long pause

Prolonged shutdown of the hydraulic machine can easily damage system components due to wear, lack of lubrication, contamination, etc. If the system is not properly maintained during the shutdown period, the consequences will be severe and may lead to system failure. Also, while the system is restarting, the operator or service technician must perform certain checks. In this article, we can discuss the checks that need to be performed on hydraulic pumps during restarting after a prolonged shutdown.

Hydraulic pumps are the most important component of all hydraulic machines with the function of hydraulic oil pressure. It is recommended that basic maintenance of hydraulic systems be performed at regular intervals to ensure long life and trouble-free operation. In addition, the checks that must be performed before rebooting are as follows.

Check if the pump rotates freely: Keeping the pump idle for a long time will make it difficult for the centrifugal and positive displacement pumps to rotate freely. The procedure to rotate the pump includes locking the main motor, removing the coupling guard, and then rotating the shaft. Rust, contamination, or any other mechanical problem will prevent the pump from spinning freely or make noise when spinning. Under these conditions, do not force the pump to move, and check it by removing it from the machine. Use only a wrench to operate a positive displacement pump or other pumps that cannot be manually driven. Using a torque wrench will damage the pump.

Check the condition of the coupling and mechanical seal: the coupling used to install the pump will provide smooth and uncomplicated operation and rotation of the pump shaft. It is necessary to check the condition of the coupling for signs of wear. Any foreign particles present in the coupling will be evidence of misalignment. Under these circumstances, check the alignment of the pump before restarting.

The mechanical seal in the hydraulic system prevents leakage of hydraulic fluid. Also, checking these seals before rebooting will help detect system leaks and related infections.

Check Oil and Lubrication Levels - The quality and quantity of hydraulic oil is critical to machine operation. Contaminants in hydraulic oil can easily damage system components when the oil is not tested before restarting. To detect contaminants in the oil, a sample is taken for testing and the properties of the oil are checked. In addition, all moving components of the system must be properly lubricated for safe and error-free operation.

Check Hoses, Clamps, and Couplings - Inspect hoses, clamps, and couplings properly for tightness. Otherwise, it will cause leaks and related problems. Therefore, if you find loose connections, tighten them properly.

Check hydraulic valves and filters: Filters will help prevent contamination. Before restarting, please check important filters such as suction filter, pressure and return, and replace dirty or damaged filters. Also check if the fuses are arranged in the correct starting position.

Source:Rexroth hydraulic pump