27 Feb Tech Tip Tuesday: Maintenance steps, improving the life of your hydraulic system
Preventative maintenance is critical to ensure the life of your hydraulic system. Primary maintenance areas include oil cleanliness, hydraulic seal integrity, lubrication of moving components and proper torque on mounting bolts.
We recommend the following maintenance procedures in these key areas:
Oil cleanliness: Preventative maintenance procedure for air oil systems
Change the oil by following these steps:
- With the legs fully extended and master valve in “down park,” drain the retract oil tank by removing the nylon line at the bottom of the tank or plug, if equipped. Reconnect and refill to the fill-port level with up to 12 quarts of the approved fluid.
- Connect the air supply to the system and fully retract the legs, leaving the handle in the “up travel” position.
- Disconnect the air supply from system.
- Disconnect the top hydraulic line at each leg and put the ends into container to catch oil.
- Reconnect the air supply to the system.
- Very slowly, move the master valve handle toward the “down park” position until oil starts coming out of lines. Leave it in this position until all oil has been exhausted from the main tank.
- Move the master valve handle to the “up travel” position and reconnect lines to the leg.
- Remove the filler cap from the end of the fill pipe on the main oil tank and fill it with up to 17 quarts of approved fluid.
- Operate the landing gear for at least two full cycles (complete leg strokes) to bleed air from the system.
Lubrication of moving components: Proper lubrication procedure for air oil systems
At approximately six month intervals, grease the stabilization legs:
- Inject grease into the vent hole on the front of the new soft seat check valve and on the rear of the older hard seat check valve using a rubber tip adapter (“Lubrimatic” code 11860).
- When all lubrication is complete, extend and retract the legs a full stroke. Excess grease will be pushed out of leg check valve vent.
- Grease the legs every six months with NLGI Grade “00” or “0” grease. The leg fitting is located near the bottom /front of the cylinder. Pump grease into the leg until grease is observed exiting the lower area close to the shoe.
Oil Cleanliness: Preventative maintenance procedure – electric oil systems
- Using the sight gauge, check fluid level every two months. Add fluid as needed.
- Drain hydraulic fluid and change the oil filter every 12 months. With legs retracted, drain the reservoir fluid using the drain plug on the bottom of the reservoir. Change the filter (P/N 06-1014). Remove the fill plug and add the specified fluid until the oil level reaches the top of the sight gauge, then reinstall the fill plug. Recommended fluid is ISO 15 Anti Wear Hydraulic Fluid for normal temperature operation. Check your operator’s manual for recommended brands of fluid that meet this specification.
- Operate the landing gear for at least two full cycles (complete leg strokes) to bleed air from the system.
Lubrication of moving components: Proper lubrication procedure for electric oil systems
Grease the legs every six months with NLGI Grade “00” or “0” grease. The leg grease fitting is located near the bottom/ front of the cylinder. Pump grease until grease is observed exiting the lower area close to the shoe.
Click here to download a printable Maintenance Guide and follow the steps as you perform your maintenance updates.
Questions about the preventive maintenance process for your stabilization legs? Contact our Customer Service team at info@powerpackerus.com for more information.
*Note that this process applies only to Power-Packer products manufactured in North America