Have you ever had a skid steer or excavator break down in the middle of a big job?

Hydraulic reliability isn’t just about uptime. It’s actually about keeping your equipment operational to avoid lost income, missed deadlines, and protecting the investment you've made in your equipment. 

In this Shop Talk Blog, we’re going to discuss how reliability is built, not something to take for granted. It starts with good habits, regular checks, and a strong maintenance culture.

Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might be interested in:

• The Facts about Large Skid Steer Loaders
• Do You Know These Facts About Timbco and TimberPro?
• Hydraulic Pump Failure

The Cost of Unreliable Hydraulics

A single hydraulic failure can have ripple effects on your compact equipment, including costly downtime, missed deadlines, and expensive repairs. And contamination and improper maintenance are among the top causes of failure for hydraulic equipment. Investing in the reliability of your equipment, on the other hand, pays for itself in fewer breakdowns, longer component life, and the ability to maintain the equipment's value. Let’s take a look at what your investment in reliability looks like.

Reliability Begins with Contamination Control

Clean fluid is the foundation of having reliable hydraulic equipment. The first challenge to overcome when maintaining the reliability of your equipment is contamination. Dirt, water, and debris can compromise the efficiency of your equipment and, left unaddressed, lead to costly damage. The most common sources of hydraulic contamination are 

• Worn seals, which not only allow fluid out but also let contaminants get in
• Bad hoses, like a worn seal, can let out critical fluid and let in problematic contamination
• Missed filter changes, which can cause bypass valves to be activated and let contamination continue to flow through the system
• Negligent storage that includes extreme temperature changes and exposure to water and air
• Cleanliness of new hydraulic fluid

Some really simple reliability checks can assist with contamination control, however: This includes…

• Monitoring filter differential pressure to determine when they need to be replaced
• Controlled storage of new hydraulic fluid
• Regularly sample and test the fluid
• Inspect breathers, seals, and hoses

Preventive Maintenance: Small Actions, Big Results

Hydraulic equipment reliability is achieved through consistent habits. These include scheduled fluid analysis to measure the amount of contamination that is present, including aging fluid and particle contamination. And remember that hydraulic contamination is responsible for approximately 70% of hydraulic failures. It's also essential to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for fluid change. If your fluid appears relatively clean, hydraulic fluid can still age and lead to a decline in equipment performance. 

Another essential task is replacing filters (including case drain filters) and investing in quality filters. Clogged filters not only compromise system performance but can also lead to bypass valves allowing contaminated fluid to continue on its path. This, in turn, can damage critical components, including your final drive motors. 

Documenting maintenance and repairs is beneficial because these records help identify trends before they become problems, and help you determine when a major component needs to be replaced. Additionally, repair trends can identify areas that require attention.

Design and Component Quality Matter

It’s important to remember that even the best maintenance can’t overcome poor-quality parts. Investing in quality for components, including filters, hoses, and fittings, does reduce wear and enhance the reliability of your equipment. And that induces quality reman final drive motors, that can match or exceed OEM reliability. For example, a reman final drive can save thousands of dollars without compromising the quality of your equipment (in fact, it might just enhance it).

The Human Factor: Training and Awareness

There’s another key aspect to reliability, and that's training and awareness. Reliability depends heavily on the people who operate and maintain your equipment. It’s important to teach operators how to spot early warning signs of problems, such as overheating, leaks, and sluggish response to controls. And your team needs to encourage accountability in reporting issues early on before they lead to catastrophic failure and expensive repairs. Finally, it’s wise to foster a reliability mindset that focuses on preventing major issues rather than just running equipment until it fails.

Putting It All Together: A Reliability Checklist

Here’s a short reliability checklist:

• Always keep your hydraulic fluid clean and monitored
• Replace filters and seals on schedule
• Regularly inspect hydraulic hoses and connections.
• Make sure to use OEM or reman-quality components
• Train your operators to recognize early warning signs of imminent failure

Conclusion

Reliability doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of consistent care, quality parts, and informed operators. And at Texas Final Drive, we know what it takes to keep your final drives reliable because we’ve rebuilt and tested thousands of them. 

Need help diagnosing a reliability issue or sourcing a replacement final drive? Contact Texas Final Drive: we’ll help you keep your equipment running like it should