WorldWide Drilling Resource

12 NOVEMBER 2013 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Hydraulic Training by J. Eric Freimuth Hydraulic Training Associates Troubleshooting Tips - Part 3 Let’s move onto other components of our system. Assuming the suction strainer has been cleaned and the inlet plumbing examined for air leaks, oil may be slip- ping across the pumping elements inside the pump. This could mean a worn-out pump or too high an oil temperature. High slippage in the pump will cause it to run considerably hotter than the oil reservoir temperature. In normal oper- ation with a good pump, the pump case will probably run about 20ºF above reser- voir temperature. If greater, this excess slippage from wear may be the cause. Check also for: a Slipping Belts a Sheared Shaft Pin a Broken Key a Broken Shaft a Broken Coupling a Loose Set Screw If your test indicated the problem was in the relief valve, the obvious quick- est remedy would be to replace the valve with one known to be good. The faulty valve may later be disassembled for inspection, then cleaned. Pilot-operated relief valves have small orifices which may be blocked with an accumulation of dirt. Blow out all the passages with an air hose and run a small wire through the orifices. Check also for free movement of the spool. If the relief valve has pipe thread connec- tions in the body, the spool may bind if the pipe threads are overtightened. If possible, test the spool for binding before unscrewing connections from the body, or screw in the connections tightly dur- ing the inspection of the valve. If the pump will develop full flow and the relief will develop full pressure when adjusted, then both the pump and the relief valve may be considered to be good and trouble will be further down- stream. The cylinder should be tested first for worn-out or defective packing. Run the cylinder piston to one end of its stroke and leave it stalled in this position under pressure. Crack the fitting at the farthest end and check for fluid leakage. After checking, tighten the fitting and run the piston back toward the opposite end of the barrel and repeat the test. Occasionally, the cylinder will leak at one end of the stroke due to scratches or dents in the barrel. Check suspected positions in mid stroke, installing a pos- itive stop at the suspected position, and run the rod against it for testing. Once in a great while, a seal may leak intermittently. This is usually caused by a soft packing or o-ring moving slight- ly or rolling into different positions on the piston. This is more likely to happen on a cylinder with a large bore. Eric Eric Freimuth may be contacted via e-mail at admin@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Young Leaders Event Set for CONEXPO-CON/AGG Adapted from Information by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014 will host the inaugural CONEXPO-CON/AGG Young Leaders Event, bringing up-and- coming industry leaders together to share ideas and build relationships for the future. The event will feature a luncheon and keynote speaker. Contractors, producers, fleet man- agers, distributors, and others involved in construction who are under 40 years old are encouraged to participate; it’s also an ideal opportunity for companies to spot- light emerging leaders. The Young Leaders Event is set for March 5, 2014. It will be an excellent opportunity for these future leaders to take a quiet break from the show floor to engage with each other, learn from seasoned veterans, and expand their in- dustry networks. “CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the perfect place to recognize the excellence of our next generation; it’s where the industry gathers and where the next generation of new technologies is on display,” stated Megan Tanel, show director. “Our young leaders can also partic- ipate in focused education while at the show, as well as find the equipment and products that will help them achieve con- tinued success,” she concluded. CONEXPO-CON/AGG will be held March 4-8, 2014 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. WWDR photo of some of the outdoor exhibits at the 2011 CONEXPO-CON/AGG event.