Hydraulic drive power loss

[SEP87]

Hello,

I have an application that uses a hydraulic motor powered from a diesel engine.

There was a small leak on the hose connection to the pump which pretty much emptied the reservoir (pump was not used for about 2 months). The reservoir has now been topped up but the power output does not appear to have returned to normal levels. Could this just require more oil in the reservoir, or could there be an underlying problem like trapped air or something else?

Also is there any chance oil could have seeped into the flywheel/clutch plate and could this also cause a loss of power?

Thanks

 

[Artisi]

Yes, yes and yes.

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)

 

[MikeHalloran]

If you ran the pump dry for more than a few seconds, it may be time to order a new one.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[LittleInch]

If you give us some details such as size of the pump, type of pump, pictures, how much power is being lost etc, there may be more useful comments, at present this is like saying "my diesel engine ran out of diesel, I put more diesel back in the tank and now it doesn't run as well - what can the problem be??" How is any one expected to know from that description??

Running any pump dry, especially the higher power, higher pressure units, risks damaging some of the internals to the extent that you are fortunate the thing is still working to any degree.




My motto: Learn something new every day

Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way

 

[SEP87]

Thanks for your replies. In short I'm afraid I don't have the answers to your questions. I know very little about hydraulic drives and just wanted to know if the possible issues I mentioned (reduced level of oil in reservoir, trapped air in pump/motor, or oil into clutch plate) were even possible and if so could they result in power loss.

I wasn't asking for (or expecting) a full breakdown report or a miracle fix, just whether I'm barking up the wrong tree or not.

I now know all are possible and can go from here. Thanks.

 

[LittleInch]

If you have more specific issues or want some guidance for your specific issue try the fluid power engineering forum. There are guys there who really really know about hydraulic pumps and motors.

Also the fluid used needs to be what the pump is expecting - was it topped up with the same fluid? Hydraulic oil is quite specific. My best guess is you've caused the pump some damage and there is now some greater clearances inside the machine than there was before.

My motto: Learn something new every day

Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way

 

[SEP87]

Thanks for your advice, I hadn't found the fluid power forum until you suggested it, so I will go and have a good read first.

Thank you.