The daily maintenance of hydraulic hoses involves numerous faults. How can common faults be avoided?

There are thousands of reasons for hydraulic hose failure, but with appropriate preventive measures, the most common faults can be avoided.

1. Fluid compatibility

Incompatible fluids will cause the rubber layer inside the hose assembly to deteriorate, expand, and delaminate. In some cases, the inner adhesive layer may also be partially damaged. The hose must be compatible with the fluid being transported. It should be ensured that the fluid is not only compatible with the inner adhesive layer, but also with the outer adhesive layer, joints, and even O-rings.

2. Dry air/stale air

The inner rubber layer of the hose may have many small cracks due to aging or dry air. Sometimes, this type of malfunction is difficult to detect because the hose can still maintain flexibility, but there may be signs of external leakage.

To avoid dry or stale air issues, you should confirm whether your hose rating is suitable for extremely dry air. For these applications, it is best to choose hoses with PKR or EPDM inner rubber material.

3. Minimum bending radius

If the minimum bending radius is not met, the hose assembly may fail relatively quickly.

In vacuum or suction applications, if the bending radius is exceeded, the hose may become flat in the bending area. This will hinder or restrict the flow of the medium. If the bending is too severe, the hose may become twisted. To prevent the occurrence of minimum bending radius hose failure, the recommended bending radius should be carefully checked.

4. Wear and tear

Hydraulic hoses are subjected to harsh environments every day, and their effects will eventually manifest on the hoses. If not checked regularly, wear and tear may cause the hose assembly to rupture and leak. If there is excessive friction between the hose and external objects or even another hose, it will wear off the coating layer on the hose and ultimately wear down the reinforcement layer.

Properly assembled and installed hoses will have a longer lifespan, thereby reducing downtime and maintenance costs.