Buying Hydraulic Hoses: What to Look For
Posted on: 7 December 2016
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When purchasing hydraulic hoses, it is essential to adhere to the OEM guidelines, and installation should follow the recommendations provided by the manufacturer. Nonetheless, sometimes it is necessary to stray from the guidelines depending on the environmental and operating conditions under which the system runs. For maximum hose life, optimal efficiency and performance, it is vital to get the hose parameters elaborated below perfectly.
Parameters:
Diameter. Buying a hydraulic hose with a small diameter increases the rate of flow while a larger diameter reduces the rate of flow. Thus it is essential to purchase a hydraulic hose that is a perfect match for the rate of flow designed for a particular system. If the system's rate of flow needs adjustments to either assist overheating issues or maybe to speed up the equipment, it is advisable to use a different hose.
Length. The length of the hose is also an important factor to consider. Using a short hose to connect two separate components inflicts stress on the hose, and thus its duration of use will be shortened. On the other hand, a longer hose facilitates excess vibration, over bending and possibly abrasion, all of which contribute to premature hose failure. It is thus advisable to purchase a hydraulic hose whose length matches the distance between components correctly.
Temperature rating. Hydraulic hoses crack and harden when a hydraulic system exceeds its recommended temperature range. At high system temperatures the effect gets worse because plasticizers tend to leach out faster. Thus when buying a hydraulic hose, it is vital to ensure that its temperature range matches that of the equipment it will be used with, irrespective of what the OEM guidelines depict.
Pressure capacity. Hydraulic hoses should be able to handle more than the regulated pressure of a system. For instance if there are any unexpected pressure spikes, the hose have the capacity to handle them without any issues. Thus it is worthwhile to buy a hose that has the capacity to deal with 300-500 more Pascals per square inch (PSI) than the normal system pressure.
Resistance. Depending on the environment in which the hydraulic hose is utilized, it will get exposed to different chemicals, abrasion, UV rays or even fire. It is thus important to check for the kind of protection the hose has against such environmental factors that can lead to degradation via scuffing or rust. Thus when buying a hydraulic hose, it should be a priority to check the kind of corrosion resistance coating provided by the manufacturer.