Do Maintenance Needs Differ Between a Single and Double Acting Hydraulic Cylinder?

Whether it’s a single or double-acting hydraulic cylinder, consistent maintenance is essential to guaranteeing long-term durability. That maintenance should include the following:

• Inspecting components for wear – Since hydraulic cylinders engage in repetitive, intense force applications, they can be compromised if minor signs of wear aren’t addressed in time. To ensure there are no signs of wear, the hydraulic cylinder should be opened up and inspected during every service interval.
  
  This means the hydraulic cylinder will need to be disassembled prior to inspection. A hydraulic equipment expert should handle this task, if possible, which will ensure contamination isn’t introduced into the system and will prevent any errors during reassembly – which can cause catastrophic failures.
  
  During a full hydraulic cylinder inspection, the equipment’s seals, valves, rod and body all require a close look. These components are likely to show signs of wear first, as slight calibration issues or environmental factors are enough to isolate wear to these areas. If the rod is slightly misaligned, for example, the rod barrel or head may have signs of abrasion or scoring.
  
  
• Checking for any hydraulic fluid leaks – Single and double acting hydraulic cylinders both have fluid-related maintenance needs, and both can be affected by hydraulic fluid leaks. If there is a leak, there is a potential vector for contamination to intrude into the hydraulic system. Following operation, verify that there are no hydraulic fluid residues on the cylinder body or around the connectors. Hydraulic fluid leaks may be internal as well, which may lead to bypass and loss of power delivery, indicating that a full inspection is needed.
  
  
• Monitoring hydraulic fluid quality – Hydraulic fluid contamination is responsible for the majority of hydraulic equipment failures. Contaminated hydraulic fluid may result in overheating, accelerated wear, and cavitation, all of which are serious threats to single and double acting hydraulic cylinders.
  
  To prevent contamination from degrading your hydraulic fluid, take the occasional sample from a test point connected to the hydraulic system. If you need to verify whether contamination is passing through the hydraulic cylinder, take a sample from the return line exiting the cylinder.
  
  If the hydraulic fluid contains any sediment, it’s time to flush out the system and replace the fluid. It’s also time to perform a full hydraulic system inspection to identify any signs of contamination-caused damage.
  
  In some cases, fluid contaminants will not be visible to the naked eye. For this reason, it’s a good idea to send a hydraulic fluid sample to a lab for deeper analysis – at least once every few months.
  
  
• Check the seals and lubricate the system – During a full hydraulic cylinder inspection, any old lubricant should be cleaned from the piston and rod. Check the hydraulic seals during this time to ensure they are intact and still providing an adequate fluid seal. The hydraulic seals are one of the most common failure points in a hydraulic system and they can degrade quickly if the operating environment isn’t ideal.
  
  If the hydraulic cylinder only sees intermittent use, consider lubricating the exposed part of the rod. This is often done with hydraulic grease, which has a higher viscosity.