What’s Wrong With My Foundation Repair Equipment

If your foundation repair system isn’t functioning properly, use the following troubleshooting tips to narrow down the problem:

• System will not operate – Start with checking oil levels and quality. If there is sufficient oil in the reservoir, verify that the oil is to specification. If it is, inspect all filters and clean any that are clogged. Do the same for all hydraulic lines and ensure that none are restricted.
  
  Excessive loading conditions will also prevent the system from operating. Leaks in the pump suction line or relief valve are also possibilities.
  
  Component wear, particularly cylinder rod and valve wear, can also cause system failure. These issues will need to be checked by an expert technician.
  
  
• System is operating too quickly or slowly – Clean all filters and lines first. If the problem persists, there may be excessive wear to valves or the cylinder rod.
  
  Give the system time to warm up, as hydraulic oil may be too cold and its viscosity too high. Ensure the pump’s drive speed is properly set – you can check the manufacturer’s guide for ideal settings. Also, check the restrictor and relief valves to ensure they are properly adjusted. Leaks, external or internal, are another common factor of operating speeds being off.
  
  
• Hydraulic oil is overheating – Oil contamination or insufficient oil levels are common causes of overheating. Flush the system, clean all components, replace filters, and replace the oil. There could also be stuck valves or internal leaks, so check for those as well.
  
  If operators aren’t bringing the relief valve back to neutral when the pump isn’t in use, this could also cause overheating.
  
  A blocked or malfunctioning heat exchanger is another potential cause. To confirm, use a heat gun to take temperature readings of the exchanger’s inlet and outlet. You can use these readings to determine whether the exchanger is reducing thermal load appropriately. If not, clean out the exchanger and consider a replacement if that doesn’t resolve the problem.
  
  
• Hydraulic oil is foaming – Oil contamination or low oil levels may cause foaming. Foaming may also occur if entrained air is present. Check the suction strainer and any connections on the pump’s suction line for leaks.
  
  
• System producing loud noises – Most unusual sounds are the result of aeration. When air seeps into the suction line, it can cause banging, growling, or gurgling sounds. Failing seals, loose line connections or insufficient oil levels can all cause aeration.
  
  Eventually, aeration will lead to serious, potentially catastrophic issues. Cavitation, for example, is the direct result of entrained air. It presents as bubbles in the oil, though these are vacuum bubbles, not air bubbles. When they collapse, the resulting force can damage the pump’s impeller, the pump’s housing, the seals, and other components.
  
  
• Control valve leaking or binding – If the control valve is sticking (binding), it may be a linkage issue, typically with the spool valve. Give it a check and inspect the valve’s binding and lubrication. The control valve may also be misaligned. Be sure to check the bracket screws and tie bolts as well, as they may need to be loosened a bit. If there are external leaks, this is typically a seal issue. There may be backflow into the system which may indicate a coupler problem, so check the connections.
  
  
• Visible leaks on the cylinder – Cylinder leaks are almost always due to failing seals or excessive rod wear. You’ll need to crack the cylinder open to verify.

Once the above issues are resolved by a hydraulic power expert, there are steps your team can take to reduce the likelihood of future breakdowns.