Maintenance Schedule for Foundation Repair Equipment

Your foundation repair equipment operates best if it’s kept on a consistent maintenance schedule. For the most part, this means servicing your company’s hydraulic pumps and hydraulic cylinders, though your hoses and accessories should also receive occasional attention.

The Importance of a Maintenance Schedule for Foundation Repair Equipment

Foundation repair businesses may use software to track their equipment maintenance or rely on paper records to do so. In both cases, the following information is typically tracked:

The age and operating history of the hydraulic equipment
The last time the hydraulic pump or cylinder was serviced
When the next round of maintenance is required for a piece of hydraulic equipment
What components have been recently replaced, if any
Any observations about the hydraulic pump or cylinder’s operating condition

Hydraulic pump and cylinder manufacturers recommend regular service intervals for their equipment, though your organization may prefer to accelerate this schedule to guarantee minimal downtime. In either case, tracking your foundation repair equipment’s maintenance history will go a long way to preventing unexpected breakdowns.

A Maintenance Schedule and Checklist for Hydraulic Pumps

Hydraulic pumps are the power-delivering heart of every foundation repair system. If they go down, the whole operation goes down. To prevent that from happening, the following maintenance checklist is recommended:

With each use – Before taking your hydraulic pumps into the field, check their fluid levels and add more fluid if necessary. Verify that the filters are in good condition and be sure to clean them if they are heavily soiled.
Other than that, the day-to-day focus on your hydraulic equipment should be vigilance. Confirm that there are no leaks after every work cycle, make a note of any unusual noises during operation and verify that the hydraulic pump is operating within its normal temperature range. If leaks are suspected, or if unusual noises or temperatures are present, follow up with a trained hydraulic equipment technician.
Every month – You’ll likely need to replace or clean the filters a couple times a month, though heavy-duty work in rugged environments will clog up filters faster and force additional service. Many hydraulic filters are designed with indicator switches that trigger when it’s time for a cleaning. Check these a few times every month.
Monthly inspections are also recommended for the hydraulic pump’s seals. Seals are common failure points in any hydraulic system, and that’s also the case with foundation repair equipment. If there are any signs of wear or damage, switch the seals out.
Keep an eye on the hydraulic fluid’s quality At least once a month, take a quick sample of the fluid and verify that there are no signs of contamination, such as visible sediment or cloudiness.
Every few months – Your hydraulic pumps have racked up hundreds of hours of service in the last few months, so about once a quarter, run the hydraulic pump at full pressure to confirm that it’s still operating at peak efficiency. It’s also a good idea to have the system’s hydraulic fluid analyzed at a lab every few months to check for early signs of contamination. This isn’t always easy to spot with the naked eye and lab analysis provides advanced warning that the fluid is degrading.
Once a year – Most manufacturers recommend a full system inspection and round of maintenance after 10,000 hours of operation, give or take a bit depending on the brand. For most foundation repair companies, their hydraulic pumps get 10,000 hours of work every 12-14 months. Schedule this full inspection on an annual basis, during which a foundation repair equipment expert will inspect for signs of wear or corrosion. Components may need to be replaced, along with the system’s hydraulic fluid.

A Maintenance Schedule and Checklist for Hydraulic Cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders are the heavy lifters and pullers in every foundation repair system. If they fail, it can expose operators to risk of severe injury. To protect your operator’s safety and your operation’s efficiency, the following maintenance schedule is recommended for hydraulic cylinders:

After every operation – It’s highly recommended that operators inspect their hydraulic cylinders following every job, just like with hydraulic pumps. Check for any signs of leaks, such as pooling hydraulic fluid or loss of efficiency. Look for signs of wear or damage and keep an ear out, too, for any unusual noises – such as banging or “growling.”
Every month – At least once a month – but ideally a few times a month – inspect the cylinder’s rod for signs of corrosion (pitting, discoloration) or signs of unusual wear (scoring or wear concentrated on one side of the rod/barrel). The seals should also be checked at this time, especially the wiper seal, as contaminants will rapidly ingress into the hydraulic cylinder if it fails. Verify that the hoses and fittings attached to the hydraulic cylinder are also in good shape and secure.
Every few months – About once a quarter, have your operators run the hydraulic cylinder to its full stroke length and verify that it’s still coming up to full capacity smoothly and without sticking. If there are efficiency or handling problems as the cylinder strokes, schedule a full inspection.
Once a year – Hydraulic cylinders also need a full inspection about once a year, like with hydraulic pumps. During this inspection, the cylinder should be fully disassembled and inspected for any signs of component failure. Replacement parts may be necessary, especially the O-rings and seals. Clean out the hydraulic cylinder, as well, and top it off with fresh hydraulic fluid.

Maintenance for Hydraulic Hoses and Accessories

Your hydraulic pumps and cylinders are understandably top maintenance priorities. However, it’s worth taking the time to check the other parts of your foundation repair system. This includes the hoses, couplers, valves, manifolds and in-line filters. Failures in any of these components can reduce system efficiency, cause backflow in your hydraulic lines, lead to contamination or something worse – like pressurized hydraulic fluid escaping from the system.

While inspecting your foundation repair equipment, also check these secondary components for signs of wear and determine if any require replacement. Leaks are a major concern, as they may permit contaminants to intrude into the system.

A Hydraulic Equipment Expert Can Keep Your Foundation Repair Equipment Maintained

Although some foundation repair equipment maintenance is within the scope of equipment operators to handle, much of it can only be reliably performed by an experienced hydraulic equipment technician. This is especially true when it’s time to fully disassemble the hydraulic pump or cylinder for inspection.

If your foundation repair equipment is showing early signs of failure through loss of efficiency, leaks, or anything else, a hydraulic equipment technician can identify and correct the problem. And if a major service interval is approaching, an expert technician can spearhead it and verify that your foundation repair equipment is still operating at optimal efficiency.