Many people keep asking one question: How long do hydraulic tubing assemblies last? Unfortunately, there is no outright answer to the question, but the good news is that there are signs that maintenance experts in Tubing Assembly by Spinco Metal Products can look out for to determine when it is the right time for preventive tube assembly replacement.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) suggests that bulk rubber hose has a shelf life of 10 years from the date of manufacture. Check for the hose’s manufacture date and if it is something close to 10 years, you should not use it.
Have a preventative schedule
For many applications carrying out a visual inspection at least once in a month and preventive replacement of Tubing Assembly by Spinco Metal Products after every one or 2 years is enough. Most tube failures are as a result of external damage caused by pulling, crushing, kinking and abrasion and it is important to check for these external damages. You should keep a log of the tube replacements particularly if this is caused by a tube failure. The log will help you determine how long the tube lasts in the application. However, the information should only be used for budgeting purposes and not to substitute the visual inspection.
The critical hydraulic tubing assemblies should be inspected more often. Critical tube assemblies may include those close to the operator of the equipment or whose failure could cause injury or a great amount of damage. There are also certain conditions that should call for a replacement of the hose assemblies. These include:
* Crushed hoses
* Oil leakage around the tube or fittings
* Abrasion
* Wearing out of the exterior cover
* Twisted hoses
* Kinks. These may be as a result of wrong routing- a situation where the bend radius is below the minimum manufacturer’s specification
* Corroded or cracked fittings. Though oxidation is okay, red rust should be a cause of concern.
Conclusion
It is usually cheaper to purchase a new hose assembly than to do a clean up after the old tube leaks. A hose break can also cause potential damage to expensive components of your system. It can also cause potential injury and down time. For all your hosing needs, contact Spinco Metal Products, Inc.
