Auto Maintenance: Benefits of Keeping the Car in Shape

Auto Maintenance: Benefits of Keeping the Car in Shape

Take Caution Before You Work On A Hydraulic System

by Brent Porter

A lot of the machinery you find around a construction site runs on hydraulics. The reason for this is simple: hydraulic pressure can be used to move extremely heavy loads. While hydraulic systems can be useful, they can also be problematic. When you trust a machine that uses hydraulics to help you with your daily operations, you can find yourself at a standstill if the machine breaks down. Facing the pressure of getting your company up and running again, you might be tempted to try to make repairs to your equipment on your own, but you need to be aware of the danger of working on hydraulic equipment before you put yourself, your workers, or your equipment at risk. 

The Risk of Bodily Harm

If you don't depressurize your system properly and carefully, the pressure in the system can create serious problems. For example, if you loosen a bolt and open your hoses, the fluid inside can escape. This is where you risk injury. Such is the pressure behind the fluid that when it does escape, it won't escape as a drip. Instead, it will spurt out with enough force that it can cut through your skin and/or cause burns. Because hydraulic fluid is toxic, if it does get on or under your skin, you need to seek medical help right away. 

The Risks to Your Machinery

If you break the seal on a hydraulic piston while it is under pressure, you put your equipment at risk in a couple of different ways. For one, if a bucket or bed is raised when you work on the piston, it can come crashing down, and the weight of the bucket or bed falling can bend metal or break bolts.

If there is not a load on your piston when you break the seal, the piston itself might catapult out of its chamber. When this happens, the piston can get scratched or bent. A scratch on a piston will prevent the seal from working properly, so if you bend or scratch a hydraulic piston, you have to replace it. To avoid creating new problems for yourself, you should take great care not to damage it or to allow damage to other components of your machinery.

Because of the dangers involved in working on a hydraulic system, you are better served to take your machinery to professionals or have the professionals come to you. Because they have had the proper training, professional repair personnel should be able to work on your system without getting hurt or causing more damage. It might cost more money, and you may have to wait for repairs, but hiring someone to make repairs is often the best and cheapest method for getting your hydraulic machinery up and running. Certified Products Co is a local company that specializes in hydraulic fittings.


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About Me

Auto Maintenance: Benefits of Keeping the Car in Shape

Like many people, I can't afford to buy a new car every few years. This means that I must keep my older vehicle in top condition. Thanks to the fact that I take my car to a great shop, I do get all the benefits that come with knowing I have reliable transportation. Car maintenance covers a lot of ground. Some things I can do at home, like checking fluid levels. Other repairs and maintenance, like radiator repair or front end alignments, require professional attention. Over time, I've developed a maintenance routine that has saved a lot of money and ensures my car will easily last for several more years. If you need to keep your older car running, let me help. I'll show you how to set up a workable maintenance schedule. In the long run, you'll save a lot of time, money, and frustration.

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