Purchasing capital equipment, such as hydraulic molding presses and related systems, represents a major investment for companies. Maintaining a hydraulic press system at its peak efficiency is a crucial part of getting the most value out of the investment and reducing the need for hydraulic press repair. Review the hydraulic press inspection checklist below to help keep your press in top condition, then contact us with any questions you may have. Trained technicians should regularly check for wear, damage and non-functional components, so let us know when you’d like us to service, repair, rebuild, or retrofit your hydraulic press.
Hydraulic Press Maintenance
Regular maintenance of a hydraulic press system saves your company from unnecessary costs and increases productivity. This will allow for fewer machine breakdowns and production downtime. Making sure a hydraulic press is at its peak efficiency is an essential aspect of getting the most out of your company’s investment. In addition to regularly scheduled service and inspection by trained technicians, your team should regularly go through the inspection checklist below. Keep in mind that maintenance needs will vary depending on the design and type of press system.
Hydraulic Press Inspection Checklist
A hydraulic press inspection checklist is one of the most essential tools you can use when working with and operating a hydraulic press. It will not only highlight the safety and proper operation of the press, but it will also help prevent future problems. Follow the following steps:
- Check around the machine for any oil leaks, loose bolts, and screws around the tooling area. Tighten bolts and clean up around the work area.
- Ensure that the oil levels are correct and if necessary, fill them up.
- Check for lubrication on the grease platens. Be careful to not over-grease because this causes dirt to accumulate, causing the bearing to wear prematurely.
- Inspect the oil temperature. When the press has reached its normal operating temperature, it should be around 120 degrees F.
- Check the ram. A press’s ram should be moist but not dripping oil.
- Centering the press ram. The ram may become out of center in the cylinder due to wear of the platen gibs. Whenever the platen gibs are shimmed, check the ram position and readjust.
- Shimming Platen Gibs. Normal running clearance for platen gibs or wear pads is approximately 0.003″ to 0.005” at each corner. If platen gibs are not kept properly adjusted, damage to the main ram and cylinder bushing may occur.
Hydraulic Press Repair
There are some common problems that can be a big setback for a hydraulic press, like using the wrong type of lubricant. You may be able to fix some of these issues yourself. Otherwise, contact our Hydraulic Press Repair team to schedule a visit.
- Leaky piston oil seal. If oil is leaking from the piston oil seal, your oil reservoir may be overfilled. If so, simply drain the excess oil. If not, the piston packing may be worn or damaged, and must be replaced. Overall, clean off dirty lubricant and re-lubricate.
- Overlubricating. Oils do differ in lubrication value. Any oil will serve as a fluid medium for the press, but your pump may require the highest quality of lubrication. Consider using additives to oils to improve lubricating value, stability, and other properties only if it does not impair the general service value of the oil.
- Leaky pump plunger. This may be caused by a loose packing nut. Try tightening it; otherwise, it may be warn and may need to be replaced.
- The press will not hold pressure. If your hydraulic press will not hold pressure, check to see if the ball is contaminated. The ball and seat may have poor contact. Otherwise, the piston packing may be worn or damaged. First, remove, clean, and reseat the ball on the seat. Afterwards, if the press will still not hold pressure, you may need to replace the piston packing.
Contact Us for Guidance and Assistance
The issues above are only a few issues you may run into as a hydraulic press owner. Luckily, French’s hydraulic presses are known to last decades which results in lower life cycle costs. However, we also have a hydraulic press repair, rebuild, or retrofit team to assist with any problems that may arise. To learn more about French Oil, our hydraulic presses, oils, and other machinery, please contact us.