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How to Maintain Cat® Hydraulic Hose Assemblies
Estimated read time: 2 minutes
Hydraulic hose assemblies move pressurized fluid between the parts that power your Cat® equipment. Caterpillar is the only heavy equipment maker that designs and builds its own hydraulic hoses, ensuring top quality and durability. But to keep your equipment running smoothly, you need to regularly inspect and maintain your hose assemblies. This helps prevent damage and keeps your machine working at its best.
Check out this video to see the inspections before you tackle them yourself:
Inspect on Schedule
Daily inspections are vital to catching early signs of damage that could lead to failure, unplanned downtime or system contamination. Always refer to your Operation and Maintenance Manual (OMM) for the correct safety procedures and make sure you're wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during these checks.
Daily preshift inspections: Examine your hose assemblies for any signs of damage, such as abrasion, bubbles, cracking, twisting or leaks. Even minor damage can compromise the assembly’s integrity, so it’s important to replace any parts that look off as soon as possible.
In demanding applications: If your equipment is being used in particularly tough environments, consider increasing the frequency of your inspections.
When operating your equipment, listen for unusual noises. Take note of excess heat, vibration or slower implement performance. These symptoms might indicate deeper issues that require further testing by your Cat dealer.
Steps to Prevent Hose & Couplings Damage
To help minimize the risk of damage and extend the life of your hose assemblies, follow these preventive measures:
Proper crimping: If you order assemblies from your Cat dealer, they will take care of proper crimping. But if you are crimping your own hoses, it's essential your double check your work. Overcrimping can damage the hose, while undercrimping can lead to leaks or even cause the hose to blow off from the coupling.
Correct length and routing: Using a hose of the wrong length can force you to bend or reroute the assembly improperly. Incorrect routing and bend radius can lead to heat damage, cracking and other issues.
Protect against abrasion: Abrasion is the leading cause of premature hose failure. Consider adding protective sleeving to your hoses for extra protection against wear and tear.
Proper installation: When installing an assembly, hold the coupling in the correct orientation with one wrench while tightening the nut with another wrench to prevent the hose from twisting.
In-Depth Inspections
Schedule periodic in-depth inspections, too. Qualified technicians will examine hoses located behind panels and in other hard-to-see places. They may be able to find issues that could escalate into major problems.
By following these guidelines, you can help prevent damage to your Cat hose assemblies, reduce downtime and keep your equipment running smoothly. Remember, proactive maintenance helps you take care of your hydraulic system.
For more information and support, contact your Cat dealer. And always check your Operation and Maintenance Manual for specific instruction and safety procedures.
