How to Repair Your Excavator Hydraulic Pump

 

An excavator hydraulic pump is one of the main components of an excavator. The excavator hydraulic pump is engine-driven.

The importance of an excavator hydraulic pump lies in the fact that it is an integral part of the hydraulics system. It helps move and direct large amounts of fluids to all necessary components, such as attachments and cylinders.

It provides power for both hydraulic and mechanical functions of the machine, and its primary purpose is to lift and rotate different types of excavation equipment.

Without a properly working pump, your machine is essentially useless. Hydraulic pumps in excavators, in particular, require a great deal of maintenance and repair.

These machines handle weighty loads in varying conditions for extended periods, so they must be frequently inspected and maintained.

Excavator hydraulic pumps must withstand many different kinds of hard contact from rocks, roots, woody debris, or other stationary objects.

If your excavator’s hydraulic pump is damaged by sediment, improper line pressure, or elements of nature, you’ll need to repair your excavator hydraulic pump.

A hydraulic pump repair will give you an excavator that works like new at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new one.

The correct diagnosis of issues with the excavator hydraulic pump can lead to faster machine recovery, reduced downtime, and lower overall machine costs while ensuring the safety of your personnel and the surrounding environment.

Sign That Indicates A Bad Excavator Hydraulic Pump:

Several symptoms indicate a bad excavator hydraulic pump. Some of the main symptoms are listed below for your reference:

 

• The first is a loss of fluid pressure, meaning it will stall or not have sufficient power going to the hydraulic equipment’s load.
• The second is a whistling sound from the hydraulic pump, indicating a significant problem and likely damaging the hydraulic pump beyond repair.
• The third symptom of a lousy excavator hydraulic pump is that it may smoke. Seals on pumps can get sticky from lack of lubrication and heat buildup, causing leakage and eventual failure.
• You will be unable to move your excavator hydraulic parts are their full potential
• It could be due to metal fatigue, broken blade gears, broken shafts, broken piston pins.
• Other symptoms to look out for include hard starting, actuation problems, low flow rates, surging, and high-frequency vibration.

Repairing Process of Your Excavator Hydraulic Pump:

 

After you have experienced any of the signs listed above, that indicates you have a terrible excavator hydraulic pump that needs repair.

You have to carry out the inspections and detect the component of your excavator hydraulic pump, which causes it to be wrong.

 

There are several components within the hydraulic pump. Some of the leading excavator hydraulic components are as follows:

• Valve plate
• Press pin
• Cylinder Block
• Ball guide
• Piston shoe
• Retainer plate
• Swashplate
• Support Front
• Support rear
• Driveshaft front
• Driveshaft rear
• Charge Pump
• Servo spacer
• Relief valve
• Thrust plate
• Block Spring

To detect the component causing failure, you need to disassemble your excavator hydraulic pump.

You need a tool kit containing all the necessary tools that will help you carry out the isolation and inspection of your hydraulic pump.

You need to disassemble the hydraulic pump by taking out bolts and screws and separating each component carefully.

Examine the seals and each component to find out which core component is causing the problem.

After finding out the faulty components, assess the extent of damage to the components. Inspect if you can repair your hydraulic pump components or not. If the components are too faulty or damaged, then you cannot get them repaired. Then the solution is to replace them.

But if they can be repaired, you have to follow the repair procedure because it varies from component to component.

For swashplate, shaft, cylinder block, retainer plate, valve plate, and thrust plate, anyone among them faces wear and tear or gets reduced in size due to operation.

You can repair it on a lathe machine or through a welding process to adjust its specifications just according to the compatibility level of the original hydraulic pump.

You can sharpen the edges or threads on these parts and make depressions more prominent for proper fixing.

In case if the seals are worn out, you can replace them with new seals to get them repaired. The seals do not cost you much because they are cheap and help you increase your hydraulic pump’s efficiency.

Precautions You Need to Follow While Repairing Your Hydraulic Pump:

Some safety measures need to be followed while repairing the hydraulic pumps. The precautions are as follows:

• Always ensure that the pump is adequately grounded and exposed to a suitable environment before repair.
• Do not use any exposed electrical devices near exposed hydraulic pumps.
• Always wear proper clothing such as safety goggles, gloves, and work boots during repair service.
• Make sure that the exposed hydraulic pump is kept away from water and moisture.
• While disassembling, mark each component’s position so that you can precisely place the components from where you have isolated while assembling after repair.
• Keep all the disassembled components in a large tray. This will help you in the prevention of any lost components.
• While repairing tight each component at an optimum amount of torque to prevent disassembling during operation. Doing this will prevent operational accidents.
• It’s also important to remember that any significant repair work done to a hydraulic system should always be carried out by a professional who has the correct equipment and training to do an effective repair.

Cost of Repairing an Excavator Hydraulic Pump:

This is one of the most common questions about excavator operators or owners after getting stuck on a job site.

The cost of repair of your excavator hydraulic pump varies and depends on several factors. The major factors include:

• The extent of damage to the component
• The professional level and experience of the technician
• The cost of the spare parts or components which is replaced during repair
• The material from which the component made and design specifications
• The complication level in repairing a particular excavator hydraulic pump
• The repairing technique used in the repair of your excavator hydraulic pump

All these factors drive the cost of repair of your excavator hydraulic pump. In case if the extent of damage to the component inside your excavator hydraulic pump is more than more costly, you will need to get it to repair.

If the repairing technique and the complication level of repair are more, the more cost you will need to repair your excavator hydraulic pump.

In the worst-case scenario, if the repair cost of the hydraulic pump exceeds the original cost of the pump, then it is recommended to get it replaced instead of repairing it.

How to Avoid the Repair of Your Hydraulic Pump?

The best way to reduce your excavator hydraulic pump repair costs and simplify the process is to have it serviced at periodic intervals.  You can avoid repair by properly following maintenance requirements.

The frequency of maintenance requirements of an excavator hydraulic pump largely depends on the number of operating hours, type of works, and construction conditions.

Some of the maintenance requirements are as follows:

• You need to check the oil level of your pump every time you operate your excavator. Regularly inspect all hoses and seals to find leaks.
• Remove all dirt and debris and clean it thoroughly.
• Check for any vibrations or rattling sounds associated with the shaft, retainer plate, or cylinder block of the hydraulic pump
• Maintain the operating pressure through adjusting an appropriate setting through the regulator
• Always make use of high-quality hydraulic oil to increase the life of your hydraulic pump

By checking these components regularly, you can help ensure that you will always have a functioning hydraulic pump that helps to keep you safe on the job site.

 

Final Words:

Excavator hydraulic pumps make every job more accessible, from digging to grading. But, as your excavator hydraulics age, those pumps will start to fail. The problem is these hydraulic pump failures can cause expensive damages and costly repairs.

A damaged or inoperable hydraulic system is complicated to work with when operating an excavator. If your excavator’s hydraulic pump is broken, you are faced with significant downtime.

Excavator hydraulic pumps can be repaired and restored to the like-new performance that will significantly increase your machine’s efficiency and life span. Plus, repairing your hydraulic pump is much more cost-effective than replacing it outright!