Title: How To Troubleshoot A Hydraulic System
Course: Troubleshooting Labs > Section: Sample Troubleshooting Component Pages

Check for system power, pressure, flow, correct components, and correctly attached hoses.

How to Troubleshoot a Hydraulic System

- Know how the system is supposed to work.
- If the system is not working correctly:
  - Check the power unit.
    - Is it turned on?
    - Is it hooked up to the system correctly?
    - Are there any broken components in the power unit?
  - Check hoses.
    - Attached to the right components, in the right order, in the right direction.
    - Attached properly. (Locked correctly, tight.)
  - Check that components are hooked up properly.
    - In the right order, in the right direction, to the correct other components.
  - Check pressure into the system.
    - If the system is set up with resistance, the system should have pressure.
    - If the system is not set up with resistance, the system should not have pressure.
  - Check pressure throughout the system.
    - Know about what pressure you expect.
    - If the pressure is drastically different than expected, it indicates there may be a leak, a broken component, or something is not hooked up properly.
  - Check flow throughout the system on the non-pressure side.
    - Flow meters go on the non-pressure side of the system.
    - Know about what flow you expect.
    - If flow is drastically different than expected, it indicates there may be an issue with the pump, the oil, or a component.

Common Failure Problems

Use pressure gauges and flow meters to identify where in a system there is an issue.

- Power unit is broken.
  - Pump worn out.
  - Electrical power to power unit damaged or an issue.
  - Filter clogged.
  - Not enough oil.
- Hoses are hooked up incorrectly.
- Components are hooked up incorrectly.
- Wrong components are being used.

Related Pages

- Using a pressure gauge to troubleshoot a hydraulic system
- Using a flow meter to troubleshoot a hydraulic system

Troubleshooting A Hydraulic System Overview

Troubleshooting Step-by-Step Example

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