Given that particle contamination in hydraulic oil shortens the lifespan of hydraulic components, it might seem reasonable to believe that a hydraulic system can never have too many filters. However, this assumption doesn’t always hold true.
Certain hydraulic filters can actually have adverse effects. Therefore, their inclusion in a hydraulic system might be misguided. Pump inlet (suction) filters are a prime example of this. These filters typically come in the form of a 140-micron mesh strainer attached to the pump intake within the hydraulic reservoir.
Using suction strainers increases the risk of cavitation in the intake line, leading to potential damage and failure of the hydraulic pump, especially with piston-type pumps.
If the reservoir begins clean and all returning oil is filtered, suction strainers become unnecessary since the oil won’t contain particles large enough to be caught by a coarse mesh screen.
For the reasons mentioned, I generally advise removing and discarding suction strainers if they are installed. One common argument against this recommendation is that suction strainers act as ‘rock-stoppers’. Here’s a typical viewpoint from a suction strainer advocate:
“The primary benefit of a suction strainer is to prevent debris from entering the tank during servicing. We’ve encountered instances where pumps failed due to foreign objects like bolts, which weren’t present in the tank during assembly. Adding hydraulic fluid often inadvertently introduces debris. Additionally, screens in the fill necks are often tampered with to speed up the filling process.”
A few years back, I encountered a situation where the seals failed in the swivel of a hydraulic excavator, allowing the automatic greasing system to pump grease into the hydraulic tank.
This grease caused the suction strainers to clog, resulting in their failure. The wire mesh from the strainers subsequently damaged all four hydraulic pumps and several other components. Without the suction strainers, the grease might have dissolved in the hydraulic oil with minimal damage to the components.
However, I don’t use this incident as an argument against using suction strainers because grease shouldn’t be in the hydraulic reservoir in the first place. Similarly, I don’t consider debris exclusion a valid reason for using suction strainers since nuts, bolts, or similar objects shouldn’t be present in the reservoir.
Operators who allow debris into the reservoir are often negligent in maintaining it, including cleaning or replacing the suction strainer. Consequently, the strainer eventually clogs, leading to pump failure due to cavitation, regardless of its presence.
The proper solution is to prevent debris from entering the Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida reservoir in the first place. This principle underlies my recommendation to remove and discard suction strainers, if installed. While there are a few exceptions to this rule, debris exclusion isn’t one of them.
If you’ve been following my writings here and elsewhere for some time, you’re likely aware of my strong stance against installing suction strainers, and in most cases, advocating for their removal and disposal if already installed.
That’s why I’m always keen on any new insights into this matter, especially if they come from official sources like pump manufacturers. Recently, one of our members brought to my attention the data sheet for Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida piston and vane pumps, where they recommend the installation of a suction strainer.
It appears Eaton encourages individuals to make their own informed decisions, acknowledging that the traditional practice of always installing a suction strainer is outdated.
Then there’s input from Stauff, a company not manufacturing pumps but producing suction strainers:
So, if you heed the advice of Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida and consult the pump manufacturer, one says ‘yes,’ another says ‘no,’ and a third says ‘it’s up to you.’ For those seeking clear-cut answers and struggling with ambiguity, this issue could indeed be perplexing.
I recently stumbled upon an article detailing a malfunction that transpired on a hydraulic machine during the previous northern winter. Upon starting the Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida hydraulic system, the ice-clogged suction strainer collapsed, resulting in debris that obliterated the pump.
This incident mirrors another one I encountered firsthand many years ago. In that scenario, the seals in the swivel of a hydraulic excavator failed, permitting the automatic greasing system to pump grease into the hydraulic reservoir. As anticipated, the grease obstructed the suction strainers, leading to their failure. Subsequently, the wire mesh from the suction strainers wreaked havoc on all four hydraulic pumps and numerous other components.
In both instances, had the suction strainers not been present, it’s conceivable that the ice would have melted, and the grease would have eventually dissolved in the hydraulic oil, causing minimal damage to any components—excluding the oil itself!
Acknowledging that particle contamination in Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida hydraulic oil accelerates the deterioration of hydraulic components, one might assume that a hydraulic system can never be equipped with too many filters. However, this presumption isn’t universally applicable.
Certain Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida hydraulic filters can yield detrimental effects. Consequently, their incorporation into a hydraulic system may be misguided. Pump inlet (suction) filters serve as a notable example. Typically manifesting as a 140-micron mesh strainer affixed to the pump intake within the hydraulic reservoir, these filters pose risks.
The utilization of Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida suction strainers heightens the probability of cavitation in the intake line, which can result in potential harm and malfunction of the hydraulic pump, particularly evident in piston-type pumps.
In instances where the reservoir commences in a clean state and all returning oil undergoes filtration, suction strainers become redundant, as the oil won’t harbor particles sizable enough to be ensnared by a coarse mesh screen.
Given these considerations, I commonly advocate for the removal and disposal of suction strainers if they’re currently installed. A prevalent counterargument to this suggestion posits that suction strainers serve as ‘rock-stoppers’. An archetypal stance from a suction strainer proponent follows:
Be sure to exercise all of your workshop safety protocol at all times when working with hydraulic systems. Contents under pressure can cause severe injuries to you and your team if you aren’t too careful!