Repair or replacement? How to assess the condition of hydraulic equipment

Hydraulics is one of the most important elements in the operation of special equipment. During the active operation of the machine, the hydraulic system or its individual components may periodically fail. Whether to replace or repair them depends on the following factors: the condition of the hydraulics, the cost of the equipment, the service life, and the operating conditions. Let's look at some aspects that will help you make the right decision.

Initial diagnostics should include 

assessment of the level of component wear

system pressure analysis

checking the condition of the seals

diagnostics of pump performance

The presence of contaminants or metal particles in the hydraulic fluid may indicate that the internal components of the hydraulic system are damaged.

If the cost of repair is less than 50% of the cost of a new spare part, the decision to repair will be fully justified.

Repairing localized damage, such as replacing seals or rebuilding individual components, is usually cheaper and easier.

It is also worth evaluating the availability of spare parts and their cost. If the price is reasonable and the parts are available, repair will be the right decision.

If the special equipment has worked less than 73% of its service life, repairing the damage will extend the life of the machine.

Replace the part or components of the hydraulic system if available:

critical damage, serious breakdowns and significant wear and tear of the main machine components or a cracked housing - making repair unjustified 

if the equipment is outdated, there are no spare parts available for repair, or the cost of a spare part is too expensive, it is worth purchasing a new one

also, if your repair costs will exceed 50-70% of the cost of new equipment, it is advisable to choose a replacement.

If your hydraulic equipment fails even after repair, it may indicate that its service life has been exhausted.

consider the time of possible downtime of your special equipment: if the work of the equipment is critical and the replacement of hydraulics can be performed faster than repair, it is better to choose a replacement

The advantages of replacement will be:

the new hydraulic equipment will have a warranty

modern models of units are more efficient, energy balanced and environmentally friendly

a new unit or part will ensure stable and efficient operation of your machine for a long time

The advantage of repair is:

cost reduction compared to the replacement of equipment

repair is often much faster than replacement, if you take into account the time to order the part and install it.

Quite often, damage to one component is the result of wear and tear on other components. In this case, replacing the entire unit will be effective. There is also a risk of repeated malfunctions, when even after a high-quality repair, the hydraulics will have lower efficiency and reliability compared to a new one.

If you choose to repair for technical and budgetary reasons, you should consider purchasing licensed or high-quality analog spare parts. This will help maintain efficiency and reduce costs

In any case, the decision to repair or replace hydraulic equipment should be based on an assessment of the operating conditions and high-quality diagnostics. Consultations with specialists will help you avoid further troubles with special equipment and ensure stable and efficient operation of your machines.

If you are faced with such a question, please contact Aspect Place specialists. They will help you find the necessary spare parts for your equipment and provide detailed information on replacement or repair.