The Importance of Maintenance for Foundation Repair Equipment
Foundation repair equipment is responsible for some heavy-duty work. Between rough field conditions and the high-stress nature of foundation repair, hydraulic machinery will need regular maintenance to remain in good operating condition.
Most of this maintenance is focused on the hydraulic pump and ram, as these components receive the brunt of the wear. Ideally, your team will have a maintenance routine in place to ensure consistent upkeep among hydraulic components.
Let’s look at what that maintenance routine should include, as well as signs that your repair equipment needs service.
Foundation Repair Pump Maintenance: A Checklist
In any hydraulic system, no pump means no power. As the heart of the operation, your pumps need consistent attention before and following jobs. Here’s what to tick off during a round of routine maintenance:
- Check and top off hydraulic fluid – Fluid quality and quantity are critical for safe, reliable pump operation. Prior to every job, the pump’s fluid level should be checked, and a sample should be taken for inspection. If the sample appears cloudy, if there’s sediment floating in it, or if there’s an unusual odor emanating from the fluid, contamination is present. If there is contamination in the fluid, the system should be flushed, and the fluid replaced.
- Clean the pump body and check for leaks – Hydraulic systems are notorious for springing leaks, some too small to notice unless you’re specifically looking for them. That’s what your team should be doing occasionally – specifically looking for leaks. Check the pump body, the pipes, the connections, and around the reservoir. Clean down the pump while it’s inspected, as this will minimize the likelihood of contaminants entering the system through a leak.
- Clean and replace filters as needed – The suction filter inside the reservoir and the breather on top of it are vital for protecting fluid quality, but if they aren’t cleaned or replaced on time, they’ll eventually lead to a bypass. Some filters have indicators on them that trigger when replacement is required, and these should be checked on the regular if they are present. If not, the filters will need to be visually inspected, or temperature and pressure values taken to identify when filter issues may be affecting system performance.
- Perform a visual inspection of the reservoir – If fluid is contaminated with solids or water, or if trapped air is in the system, there may be signs present in the reservoir. When time permits, drain the reservoir and check for any signs of pitting or corrosion. If scoring or pitting is present, the pump may be cavitating – a serious threat to the system that can cause total failure if not addressed.
- Check the pump’s temperature during operation – Overheating is a sign of flow problems somewhere in the system, often the result of increased friction. This could occur around filters, close to the impeller, near valves, or on the heat exchanger. If your pump doesn’t have internal thermometers, you can use a handheld infrared thermometer to take some quick readings. Do this often to establish a reliable baseline for operating temperatures. If temperatures are elevated, service the pump immediately. Overheating doesn’t improve on its own.
Between jobs, pumps and hydraulic fluid should be stored in a dust-free, low-moisture room to prevent fluid contamination.
Foundation Repair Cylinder Maintenance: Another Checklist
As hydraulic cylinders do the heavy work of lifting the foundation, they are also potential failure points for an underserviced system. Here’s what a maintenance plan should look like for your hydraulic cylinders:
- Check and refill hydraulic fluid as necessary – Like with hydraulic pumps, foundation repair cylinders also need to be topped off with hydraulic fluid occasionally. Sample the existing fluid for contamination and only use fluid grades intended for the cylinder model.
- Inspect rod and polish occasionally – The cylinder rod bears most of the equipment’s wear and may be compromised early due to poor loading practices (side loading, for example). You’ll need to open the cylinder barrel to perform a full inspection, but it’s worth it to spot any pitting or corrosion on the rod. Minor wear may be resolved with a coat of polish or chrome, but anything more than minor wear and replacement will likely be necessary.
- Inspect and replace seals when needed – Piston, rod, wiper and buffer seals are the first line of defense against contamination, fluid leakage, or unregulated pressures. During an internal inspection of the cylinder, these seals should be closely checked for any wear. Have spares on hand in case any need to be replaced as it’s unwise to gamble on a failing seal.
- Replace other worn parts when needed – Foundation repair cylinders contain dozens of small components, each one wearing at different rates. Over time, this will result in gradually reduced reliability. Internal clearances may increase, energy-wasting movements (like backlash) may develop, and the system’s overall efficiency may drop. Even a worn fastener or clevis can disrupt performance in this way, so keep replacements on hand and be ready to use them.
Cylinder maintenance is focused on close monitoring and rapid repairs if any problems are spotted. This means regularly breaking down foundation repair cylinders to give the equipment a closer look. Your team may be comfortable with disassembling and reassembling foundation repair equipment, but if they aren’t (or if there isn’t enough time to do so), a hydraulic power specialist can perform a full breakdown and inspection.
Foundation Repair Hoses, Fittings and Seals also Need Occasional Attention
The pump and ram are the most critical (and expensive) parts of a foundation repair system, but every component should get the occasional check and cleaning.
Hoses and their connections should be cleaned down following every job as both can be a primary vector for contamination. The same goes for fittings and couplers, so the occasional solvent bath is a good idea.
Seal wear is a widespread problem among foundation repair systems and can lead to contamination, pressure, or temperature issues. If your teams are comfortable cracking open the pump, it’s worth inspecting (and replacing) the seals if there are any signs of wear – especially if there are signs of seal wear.
Signs That Foundation Repair Equipment Requires Maintenance
Consistent maintenance can offset wear to a large extent and put off equipment failures, but no machine lasts forever. And with hydraulic machinery, failures can be expensive and dangerous to sustain.
Fortunately, there are normally telltale signs that a piece of hydraulic equipment is approaching a failure state. Those signs include:
- Loss of power – If the pump can’t deliver consistent power to the cylinders, or if the cylinders are lifting too slowly (or not to full capacity), it could be due to several causes. Internal leaks, a damaged impeller, a stuck valve, clogged filters, or a clogged inlet – all are common reasons for power loss.
- Unusual noises – Foundation repair pumps often provide early warnings of internal damage in the form of noise. Pump operators quickly get used to the sound of their equipment, so if anything stands out as unusual – whining, rattling, slamming – then it could be a sign of impending failure.
- Cloudy or milky hydraulic fluid – When foundation repair pumps or rams have persistent contamination problems – sometimes indicated by cloudy hydraulic fluid – it could be due to internal wear depositing fine particles into the system. This is the equivalent of a medical emergency for hydraulic equipment and necessitates immediate repairs.
- Overheating – As mentioned, overheating is often a sign of flow problems, and flow problems eventually develop into pump-ending failures. If the system cannot maintain baseline operating temperatures, even when ambient temperatures are favorable, then the system needs a complete inspection and possible repair.
If any of the above are present, the issues with your equipment necessitate an expert inspection, as they are common signs of excessive wear and imminent failure.
A Foundation Repair Equipment Expert Can Help with Maintenance and Repairs
It’s critical that contractors invest in regular maintenance for their foundation repair equipment. Whether it’s a time investment (dedicating manpower to the task) or a financial one (partnering with an expert to handle maintenance) it’s essential for avoiding the kind of equipment failures that lead to extended downtime.
If your team is too busy to stick to a regular maintenance routine, or doesn’t have the expertise to oversee it, a hydraulic power equipment expert can fill this role. With their experience working with foundation repair systems, hydraulic power experts can keep your pumps, rams and accessories in good working order so your crew can keep up with their schedule.