The Allure of the Steam Boat and Other Romantic Transportation

Posted on: 8 March 2017

Hydraulic hoses are sturdy and expected to last. They're used in high-pressure situations in order to make sure that the vehicles or machinery operate efficiently and with regularity. Often, a lot is riding on their performance and you need to take proactive steps to ensure that you don't lose out as a consequence of failure. What are the most important things to remember, when it comes to these types of assembly?

Risk of Inaction

There's no way to know how long a particular hydraulic hose will last, as it is dependent on the pressure to which they are subjected on a regular basis, their initial process of manufacture and their general maintenance. While many rubber hoses used in this situation can be expected to last about a decade, that doesn't mean that you should connect and forget, but should always keep an eye on performance and look for potential problems. Remember, that a brand-new hose assembly is going to cost a great deal less than it's likely to cost you should the hose break and other components be damaged. This is to say nothing of the downtime, when the vehicle is not available for its purpose – and also the risk of injury.

Key Takeaways

You need to inspect all of these hoses on a regular basis and look for a number of different warning signs. The hoses should never be kinked, twisted or crushed in any way, even though they may move as the vehicle to which they are attached is in motion. If you see that any hoses are getting twisted, then you either need to route them a different way, or install a swivel component to give them freedom. Always remember that the manufacturer will stipulate a specific bend radius for each hose, below which could be problematic.

Looking for Damage

You can visually inspect hoses from a distance to look for signs of abrasion. If you can see any of the reinforced wire showing, stop and replace. Have a look at the connections as well, to see if there is any oil leaking around any of the fitments and be ready to replace if you see any signs of corrosion in the metal couplings.

Safety First

Hoses should only be inspected when the equipment is depressurised. It's very dangerous to look for any pinhole leak that you may suspect otherwise. If you need to inspect while the equipment is under pressure, only use a specific tool to indicate the presence of any leakage.

Keeping Records

Finally, always keep a clear note of any replacements you make, together with a reason why you did so. Memories fade and you might not notice that there is a certain trend of failure on a specific vehicle, or across a range of similar components.