Costly damage can be caused to equipment when routine maintenance is not carried out or overlooked.
Here is a case example of this.
After operating the skid steer loader in the mud and slosh the operator was most probably tired and fed-up. He parked the machine and never gave it a thought again until the 4 in-one bucket rams started leaking oil profusely.
It seemed strange that both cylinders would start leaking at exactly the same time.
Can you spot the reason why?
Mud has filled the cavity that the hydraulic cylinder is housed in.
Notice the damage to the shaft and the hard mud caked to the back of the ram.
The mud has made a solid wedge behind the ram.
Left hand side cylinder does not look any better.
New rams on the left - Bent rams to the centre - Old cylinder to the right.
New rams modified to fit and installed to the 4 way bucket.
Grease nipples greased up and grease path checked.
So what was the problem?
Well as you have rightly guessed, the ram shafts bent like bananas , wore the seals and leaked oil.
But how or why did this happen?
Yes that's right, the hard mud did not allow the cylinder to pivot as the bucket was opened and closed.
The hydraulic force was far greater and stronger that the ram rod and so bent it.
Conclusion - Proper routine maintenance would have prevented this failure.
After each muddy operation machines and equipment should be washed down as soon as possible
and all mud and debris removed.
Months of poor maintenance caused this problem.
Implement Preventative Maintenance!
