3 Tips For Preventing Improper Hydraulic Seal Installation
Hydraulic seals play an important role in allowing your industrial machinery to function properly. Because these seals can wear out over time, they must be replaced in order to ensure maximum efficiency. Improper hydraulic seal installation is a common problem that can easily be addressed with your employees.
Here are three tips to provide your employees with in order to ensure replacement seals are installed correctly.
1. Make sure the replacement seal is clean before installation.
Dirt or debris on the surface of a hydraulic seal could lead to contamination of the hydraulic fluid flowing through your machine. As dirt and debris are circulated throughout the moving parts of machinery, these particles can adhere to the metal's surface and cause corrosion.
Because chemical solvents can cause nitrile, neoprene, and silicone seals to begin deteriorating prematurely, it's best to avoid these solvents when cleaning hydraulic seals before installation. Instead, suggest that your employees use water and a clean, lint-free rag to wipe away any contaminants before replacing a faulty seal in the future.
2. Make sure there are no cuts or nicks in the seal before installation.
Only a hydraulic seal that is completely intact can provide the type of protection your machinery needs to run properly. Even small nicks or cuts in the seal before replacement can cause big problems down the road. It's imperative that your employees check for any type of damage to the replacement seal before installation.
A seal with nicks or cuts could cause the hydraulic fluid in your machinery to leak, compromising the integrity of the entire hydraulic system. Taking a few minutes to make sure the replacement seal is in pristine condition before installation will improve the performance of your machinery in the future.
3. Make sure the seal is properly lubricated before installation.
To keep a hydraulic seal pliable, it must be lubricated at all times. Installing a dry hydraulic seal could compromise the function of your machinery, so be sure that your employees are taking the time to lubricate all replacement seals before installation.
When lubricating a hydraulic seal (especially a guide ring), you should use the same fluid that is running through the machine's hydraulic system. This will prevent cross-contamination and ensure the seal is ready to perform in sync with the hydraulic system.
Understanding how to prevent improper hydraulic seal installation will allow you to increase the efficiency of your industrial machinery. Be sure that your employees are taking the time to clean seals before installation, check for cuts or nicks prior to replacement, and lubricate the new seal during installation to reduce the number of improperly installed seals in the future.
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