Hydraulic cylinders generate linear force for pulling, pushing, or lifting in a hydraulic system. Nonetheless, hydraulic cylinders are bound to incur damage or wear and tear due to the tremendous amounts of force they encounter. 

Any issue with your hydraulic cylinder can affect the efficiency of your hydraulic system or machinery. Hence, it is not wise to neglect hydraulic cylinder repairs. 

When a hydraulic cylinder encounters an issue, there are several signs you will notice. Identifying the signs will act as a warning to schedule hydraulic cylinder repair before a breakdown occurs. 

Thus, here are three signs that state you need hydraulic cylinder repairs. 

1. Banging or Knocking Sounds 

When a hydraulic cylinder starts making unusual noises, it indicates an issue. Two unique signs that you should never ignore are banging and knocking sounds. When a hydraulic cylinder starts producing banging or knocking sounds, it indicates aeration. 

Aeration occurs when air bubbles form inside the hydraulic cylinder. But, because a hydraulic cylinder should be airtight, aeration may indicate that some of the seals have worn out or incurred damages.

Call a hydraulic cylinder repair service if your hydraulic cylinder starts producing banging or knocking sounds. 

2. Overheating 

When you buy a hydraulic cylinder, it comes with a maximum operating temperature label. The maximum operating temperature is the highest temperature at which a hydraulic cylinder can operate safely. Thus, if the hydraulic cylinder surpasses the maximum operating temperature, it overheats.

But hydraulic cylinders often overheat when they work for long periods. However, if your hydraulic cylinder overheats after using it for a short time, it has an issue. Common reasons why a hydraulic cylinder might overheat include:

  • Excess friction between the cylinder walls and the piston.
  • The heat generated by compressed air bubbles in the cylinder.

Irrespective of the cause, an overheating hydraulic cylinder can cause other parts of the hydraulic system to fail. Hence, if your hydraulic cylinder constantly overheats after a short period, don't hesitate to schedule a hydraulic cylinder repair service.

3. Hydraulic Cylinder Losing Power

A hydraulic cylinder should provide a constant rate of flow and power. Hence, if your hydraulic cylinder seems to be slowing down, there could be an issue that needs immediate addressing.

In many cases, a hydraulic cylinder loses power due to internal friction that limits the movement of the piston. However, a hydraulic cylinder can also lose power if there is a leak. A leak causes the fluid in the cylinder to lose pressure, and as a result, the power produced by the hydraulic cylinder also drops.

Hence, when your hydraulic cylinder starts performing poorly or losing efficiency, call a hydraulic cylinder repair contractor to assess and fix the issue. For more information, contact a hydraulic cylinder repair service near you.

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