Common Foundation Repair Equipment Issues
Foundation repair equipment is subjected to a great deal of punishment, as well as challenging environments that can cause a range of foundation repair equipment issues, including:
- Hydraulic fluid contamination
- Leaks
- Seal failures
- Corrosion
- Overheating
The above issues are responsible for the majority of foundation repair equipment issues. By focusing on these common failures and working to prevent them, foundation repair companies can keep their valuable equipment assets in the field.
1) Hydraulic Fluid Contamination
Hydraulic fluid contamination is the most common foundation repair equipment issue, by a large margin. Air, water and solid debris can all enter a foundation repair system, accelerating wear in any hydraulic components and altering the hydraulic fluid’s quality. It only takes a tiny amount of contamination to bring down a hydraulic pump or cylinder, and the damage can be catastrophic.
Air, water and dirt can enter a foundation repair system in many ways. Loose connections, leaks, failing seals, soiled filters or a malfunctioning valve can all expose the system to contamination. As foundation repair crews typically operate in and around dirt, it is essential that any signs of contamination be taken seriously. Those signs may include:
- Banging or growling sounds, which may indicate aeration or cavitation
- Overheating
- Changes in hydraulic fluid viscosity or flow
- Unusual wear to internal components
- Changes in pressure delivery or handling
Promptly responding to the above problems will minimize the chances of a major failure. Even better, though, is taking a preventative approach to contamination. Every month or so, foundation repair crews should take a fluid sample from the return line and do a quick visual analysis. If the fluid appears cloudy or if there is any gathering sediment, it’s a clear sign that contamination is affecting your hydraulic equipment.
However, in its very early stages, contamination may not be visually apparent. That is why a full lab analysis of your system’s hydraulic fluid is recommended every few months. This will detect any traces of contamination and allow foundation repair companies to act before their equipment is damaged beyond an easy fix.
2) Hydraulic Leaks
Hydraulic leaks may affect any part of a foundation repair system, but the hydraulic pump, cylinder, hoses and connections are the most likely sources for any leaks. Leaks may be internal or external. Hydraulic fluid can flow from the leak’s source and pool several feet away, so it may not be immediately clear where the fluid is coming from.
Internal leaks are more difficult to spot, for obvious reasons. Internal leaks can produce obvious problems including loss of flow and force delivery. If fluid levels are dropped for unexplained reasons, an internal leak is a potential issue.
A thorough visual inspection can reveal most external leaks, though a special fluorescent dye and a black light may be used to find them faster.
3) Hydraulic Seal Failures
Hydraulic seals tend to be the most failure-prone part of any hydraulic equipment system, including foundation repair systems. Seals are built into hydraulic pumps and cylinders, but it is the cylinder seals that require regular inspections.
Inside every hydraulic cylinder is a set of seals – the rod seal, piston seal and wiper seal among them. Piston and rod seals prevent hydraulic fluid from bypassing into another part of the system. The piston seal prevents fluid from bypassing around the piston head as it strokes into the cylinder, and the rod seal prevents fluid from escaping from the cylinder barrel.
The wiper seal is responsible for preventing dirt and moisture from entering the piston barrel. If this seal fails, contamination may quickly enter the hydraulic cylinder.
The only way to prevent hydraulic seal failures is to inspect those seals regularly – at least once a month. If there are any signs of seal failure, replace the seal at once.
4) Corrosion
Corrosion emerges slowly and is most likely to threaten the hydraulic cylinders piston rod. Here, any exposure to contamination or the elements will cause small pockets of corrosion (typically rust) on the rod and inside the barrel. If this happens, operating the cylinder may cause the corrosion to slough off and leave behind pitting, which itself is a wear accelerator.
Regular cylinder use will protect against corrosion, which tends to emerge after long periods of disuse. If corrosion is already causing issues in your foundation repair equipment, have a hydraulic equipment expert inspect the cylinder to assess the extent of the damage.
5) Overheating
Overheating is a symptom to pay attention to in foundation repair equipment. It’s directly caused by changes in flow or fluid viscosity, contamination, a blocked heat exchanger or mechanical failure.
Hydraulic systems are mostly likely to experience overheating around the heat exchanger, but the system’s fluid or valves may also overheat.
Overheating can affect fluid quality and affect system performance. It can also stress internal components if temperatures climb high enough, increasing the risk of a major failure.
To detect overheating, use a thermal gun or thermal optics to pinpoint where heat is gathering. It’s also a good idea to take the system’s temperature regularly and compare them against control readings (temperature readings taken when the system is operating normally and showing no issues). This can give you an idea of what in-field, normal operating conditions look like, temperature-wise.
A Hydraulic Equipment Expert Can Correct Foundation Repair Equipment Issues
Foundation repair companies cannot afford extended downtime from their equipment. The resulting delays are expensive and can cause deadline issues well into the future. That is why prompt maintenance is essential when your foundation repair equipment develops issues.
A hydraulic equipment expert can provide this maintenance and any needed repairs, ensuring your projects stay on schedule.