There are often signs that a pump is on its way out but unless you know what you are looking for the signs can be easily missed. Knowing when your pump is nearing the end of its life can help with ordering parts or a new one and planning for downtime.
1.Know the Hours
All machinery wears out with time and pumps are designed to work for a set number of hours before they need replacing. Find out how long you can expect the pump to be operational then work out how many hours your equipment has completed.
2. Listen for the Sounds
Pumps in good working order will hum along relatively quietly. One of the first symptoms of a pump working under pressure is a whine or howling sound. When you are using a piece of machinery day in day out, it can be difficult to tell so take the time to listen to the pump before starting work.
3. Not Starting
Another sign that your pump is in trouble is when it no longer starts the first time. If it takes a few turns to get going in the morning, then there is a chance that the pump is playing up. A weakened pump can be hard to start because of a lack of pressure.
4. Decrease in Power and Acceleration
Often it’s the little changes that are difficult to notice that tell you that your pump is no longer working well. Over an extended period, a pump can slowly decrease in power, making it difficult for the operator to detect. There may also be a lag in acceleration that isn’t obvious when it occurs gradually. It’s often more apparent to an operator after a new pump has gone in that the old one wasn’t working to its full capacity.
5. Fuel Efficiency
One sign that a pump is not performing to its optimum is its fuel consumption. With time the pump needs more fuel to complete the same job. Keep an eye on the fuel gauge to know if you are needing to fill up more often.
6. The Same Model will Fail Around the Same Time
If you think your pump might be coming to the end of its life and it’s the first pump on the piece of equipment, call us and ask if we have seen pumps on the same model start to fail. Quite often the first pumps will reach their hours at the same time, and we’ll receive a high number of new pump orders within a few months.
Benefits of Knowing When a Pump is Going to Fail
No one wants to be surprised by a broken down pump. It’s rare for one to fail with absolutely no warning however the signs can be subtle and easy to miss. Knowing when your pump, is nearing the end of its life can have the following advantages:- Order a new pump so that it’s on-site ready for immediate installation
- Organising a replacement machine to use while the new pump is being fitted
- Being able to plan for the extra expense of a new pump
- Deciding whether to upgrade the equipment rather than repair
- Schedule for the vehicle out so the pump can be fitted
- Organise for the operator to be on leave or do other duties during fitting
No one likes to be surprised by equipment failure. So, its best to keep an eye out for symptoms of a failing hydraulic pump and plan for repairs, to reduce the impact on the business.
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