Fluid Power Journal

Figure It Out

By Robert Sheaf
CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training

Shaft Seal Failed on New Pump

In the basement of a paper mill, a hydraulic power unit supplies all the flow and pressure needed to run one section of the mill. This section applies pressure …

Emergency System Fails to Close Safety Doors

A local repair shop was asked to troubleshoot a problem on the hydraulic system that closes a watertight door on a floating casino. The circuit was designed …

Figure It Out: Drifting Cylinder in a Rolling Mill

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training A local repair shop was asked to troubleshoot a …

Valve Flaw Leads to Faulty Pressures

The circuit below was working for several years when the pressure-reducing valve on the clamp cylinder started leaking oil into an assembly bolt cavity. It …

Regenerative Circuit Drops Out

A specialty machine builder was having problems getting a vertical cylinder with a regenerative circuit to lift a hinged member. When the hinged member was …

New Problem: Pilot Operated Directional Valve Locks Up

I got a call to help with a problem on an aluminum uncoiling station. The customer would collapse the expander that held the coil and installed a new coil to …

New Problem Servo System Pump Keeps Failing

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM CFC Industrial Training A company that manufactures plastic bottles for …

System Overheats on Custom Drum Crusher

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM CFC Industrial Training A horizontal press crushes empty 30- and …

Pusher Cylinders Stop Midway

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training The maintenance department of a large recycling …

Intensifier Drops from Required Pressure after Several Hours

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training We were called in to look at a filter press …

Cylinder Speed Increases on a Forming Press

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training A forming press had a 3-inch cylinder that …

Electric Motor Blowing Overloads

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training We were called out to trouble shoot a problem on …

Banging Damages Pipes and Fittings

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training A manufacturer of various size steel drums had a …

Ram Does Not Retract on a Forming Press

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training The circuit shown here was a press I designed …

Strange Noise When Starting a Hydraulic Motor

By Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM, CFC Industrial Training A steel mill reported a strange noise at one of …