Are you scratching your head because your hydraulic hose recently failed? We know how frustrating it is when your equipment malfunctions and prevents your company from moving forward and reaching certain goals. This downtime can also have a significant impact on your bottom line and profit margin.
We have helped countless organizations solve complex issues with their hydraulic hoses here at Custom Hose Tech Inc. As a result, we have noticed a striking pattern after conducting an analysis on why hydraulic hoses fail over time.
Interested in learning how you can keep your hydraulic hoses running in top condition? Here are eight of the top reasons why hoses fail and what you can do to prevent it.
#1. Hydraulic Hoses Can Fail Due to Abrasion
Abrasion is one of the reasons hoses fail. Constant friction from different elements, regardless if it’s another piece of equipment or the weather, can cause hoses to spring a leak. You can prevent this by doing frequent inspections on the hose, along with adding a cover and reinforcement layers. Protectors, hose shields and other precautionary methods can also prevent abrasion.
#2. Hydraulic Hoses Can Fail Due to Dry Air
Did you know that hydraulic hoses can also stop working due to dry air? This can happen when the hose starts to leak due to small cracks caused by dry air. If you believe dry air could be an issue for your organization, you can try to increase the dew point of the air or use certain types of rubber inner tubes.
#3. Hydraulic Hoses Weren’t Assembled The Right Way
Another occurrence we often see is that the hose was not properly assembled. This can cause many operational issues and potential safety hazards. Hydraulic hoses that do not meet the right insertion depth can make it fail. One tip to prevent this is to use depth blocks when you insert the hose so you can be certain it will meet the insertion specifications.
#4. Hydraulic Hoses Can Fail Due to Tube Erosion
Tube erosion due to the fluid or a high-velocity stream can also make a hydraulic hose leak. As a safety precaution you can check the medium beforehand to make sure it’s not too corrosive or abrasive for the tube. The hose assembly should also be loose enough for the flow to go through the inner tube of the hose. A precaution you can take is to closely follow the specifications so you are confident that the hose has the right bend radius and is the right size.
#5. Hydraulic Hoses Can Fail Due to Getting Overheated
Did you or one of your technicians recently bend the hose and hear a loud crack? This may be due to the hydraulic hose becoming brittle due to becoming overheated. When hoses are overheated it can cause them to harden due to being exposed to high temperatures over a long period of time.
There are several things you can do to keep your hydraulic hoses at the right temperature. For example, you can put shields and heat guards on the hose and closely watch the ambient temperature in your hydraulic system. You can also make sure your organization is using the appropriate hose and can handle the temperatures required for your application to successfully run.
#6. Hydraulic Hoses Can Fail Due to Contamination
Contamination is another reason why hoses can fail. Materials and other debris can remain in the hose if they are not regularly removed. This can cause the hose to clog up or cause it to develop cracks in the inner tube. You and your team can reduce the risk of contamination by cleaning the hoses regularly, inserting the right fittings and placing a cap on the hose.
#7. Hydraulic Hoses Can Fail Due to Fluid Incompatibility
Fluid incompatibility issues can ruin a hydraulic hose by causing the inner tube to leak and become contaminated. Survey the hydraulic system and only install hoses you are certain will be compatible with the fluids they need to carry. Besides checking to make sure it’s compatible with the inner tube, you can also double check that the medium won’t cause any issues with the hose fittings and cover.
#8. Hydraulic Hoses Can Fail Due to Minimum Bend Radius
Lastly, we have noticed that hydraulic hoses can fail due to not meeting the minimum bend radius. This can cause the hose tube and cover to separate or kink, which can prevent the medium from flowing through the tube. On the other hand, the hose can become too flat and not bend enough if the hose exceeds the bend radius.
To prevent this, you can reroute the hoses and change the fittings so that it will meet the minimum bend radius requirements. You may also have to replace the hose assemblies if they are not within the guidelines.
In Conclusion
There are many potential reasons your hydraulic hose to fail. From fluid incompatibility to tube erosion and dry air, one or more of these issues can cause your organization to experience downtime and interfere with your productivity. Now that you understand some of the reasons why hydraulic hoses can fail, you can implement several precautionary measures that can help you prolong the lifetime of your hydraulic hoses.
Contact Hose Tech Inc. for Your Custom Hydraulic Hose Needs
Please contact us today if you would like more information or stop by our store if you are in the area. Our friendly customer service team would be happy to help you and answer questions. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional customer service to every single customer. Custom Hose Tech provides custom fitting fabrication for unusual applications. We are industry experts when it comes to helping companies with non-standard hoses, fittings and hoses with unusual metrics.
If you prefer to get help in person, we also have a walk-in store located in Minneapolis. All you have to do is bring in your equipment and we’ll provide fast, on-site service while you wait. We can help with all size metric and American hydraulic hose and fittings. Custom Hose Tech Inc. is also a large distributor of multiple product lines of fittings, premium hydraulic hoses, and other items.