Hydraulic cylinders are critical actuators in hydraulic systems, and their performance directly affects the efficiency and accuracy of the entire system. Hydraulic cylinders may have some common faults during use, which usually cause unstable system operation or even shutdown. Therefore, it is very important to find and eliminate problems in a timely manner. The engineering cylinder manufacturer will introduce the common problems of hydraulic cylinders and their solutions in detail to help operators and maintenance personnel quickly identify and repair faults.
1. Common faults of hydraulic cylinders
Hydraulic cylinder oil leakage
Performance: Oil stains on the outside or connection parts of the cylinder, and oil leakage.
Cause:
Aging or damage of seals.
Scratches or wear on the surface of the cylinder barrel or piston rod.
The joints or pipes are not tightly connected and are loose.
Solution:
Check and replace damaged seals (such as O-rings, oil seals, etc.).
Check the surface of the cylinder. If scratches or wear are found, the cylinder should be repaired or replaced.
Make sure that the joints and pipe connections are tight and supplemented with appropriate sealing materials.

Hydraulic cylinder does not move or moves slowly
Symptom: The hydraulic cylinder fails to move as expected, or moves slowly and responds sluggishly.
Cause:
Insufficient hydraulic oil or oil contamination.
Air enters the system, causing air blockage or cavitation.
There is a leak in the hydraulic system, resulting in insufficient pressure.
Hydraulic pump failure or insufficient pump flow.
Solution:
Check the hydraulic oil level and add or replace clean hydraulic oil.
Exhaust the air in the system and release the air through the exhaust valve.
Check and repair the leaks in the hydraulic system and ensure that the cylinder and pipes are well sealed.
Check the working condition of the hydraulic pump to ensure that it is functioning properly. If the pump fails, it should be repaired or replaced.
Hydraulic cylinder makes abnormal noises
Symptom: The cylinder makes abnormal noises when working, such as humming, knocking or mechanical friction.
Cause:
There is air or bubbles in the system, causing cavitation.
The hydraulic oil is contaminated and contains impurities or moisture.
The piston, piston rod or seal in the cylinder is worn, causing friction.
Hydraulic pump or valve failure, resulting in pressure fluctuations.
Solution:
Ensure that the system is free of air to avoid cavitation.
Check the quality of the hydraulic oil. If the oil is contaminated, replace the oil in time.
Check the wear of the piston and seals, and replace damaged parts if necessary.
Check the working condition of the hydraulic pump and valve to ensure their normal operation.
Hydraulic cylinder piston is stuck or does not return to its original position
Performance: The piston cannot move smoothly in the cylinder or cannot return to its original position.
Cause:
The piston rod is bent or damaged, causing blockage.
There are impurities or particles in the cylinder, which hinders the movement of the piston.
The hydraulic system pressure is too high or too low.
The seal is damaged, resulting in oil leakage or excessive resistance.
Solution:
Check whether the piston rod is bent or damaged, and replace it if there is a problem.
Clean the inside of the cylinder to remove impurities that may cause blockage.
Adjust the pressure of the hydraulic system to ensure that it works within a reasonable pressure range.
Check and replace damaged seals to ensure the sealing of the system.
Insufficient hydraulic cylinder pressure
Performance: The working pressure of the cylinder cannot meet the requirements, resulting in unstable work or inability to complete the task.
Cause:
The hydraulic oil pump is faulty and cannot provide sufficient flow and pressure.
The system leaks, resulting in the inability to maintain pressure.
The hydraulic oil is of poor quality and the viscosity is not suitable, affecting fluidity.
The control valve is faulty and the oil flow cannot be accurately adjusted.
Solution:
Check the working condition of the hydraulic oil pump to ensure its normal operation. If a fault is found, repair or replace it.
Find and repair the leaks in the hydraulic system to ensure stable pressure.
Replace the appropriate hydraulic oil according to system requirements to ensure the quality of the oil.
Check and repair the control valve to ensure that it accurately adjusts the oil flow.
The hydraulic cylinder temperature is too high
Performance: The temperature of the cylinder continues to rise during operation, which may cause the system to overheat.
Cause:
The hydraulic oil flow is too large, resulting in an overload on the system.
The oil is contaminated or the viscosity is too high, affecting heat exchange.
The hydraulic system has poor heat dissipation, and the radiator or cooling system is faulty.
The hydraulic system working pressure is too high, generating too much heat.
Solution:
Check the flow and viscosity of the hydraulic oil to ensure that it meets the system load requirements.
Clean and check the cooling system (such as radiator, coolant, etc.) to ensure that the heat dissipation function is normal.
Check the pressure of the hydraulic system and adjust it to a reasonable range to avoid overload.
The reverse movement of the hydraulic cylinder is unstable
Performance: The cylinder cannot operate stably or the movement is inaccurate when performing reverse movement.
Cause:
The control of the hydraulic valve is inaccurate or there is a fault.
The presence of air or bubbles in the system affects the reverse movement.
The hydraulic oil is contaminated or the viscosity is not appropriate, which affects the flow of oil.
Solution:
Check the hydraulic valve to ensure that it works properly and repair or replace it if necessary.
Exclude the air in the system to ensure that there are no bubbles in the system.
Replace the hydraulic oil to ensure that its viscosity is appropriate and meets the system requirements.
2. Preventive measures for hydraulic cylinders
In addition to eliminating common faults, regular maintenance and maintenance are also the key to ensuring the long-term stable operation of hydraulic cylinders. Here are some preventive measures:
Regularly check the hydraulic oil level and oil quality: Maintain the proper oil level, change the hydraulic oil regularly, and ensure that the oil is clean.
Regularly check the seals: Check the seals of the cylinder and hydraulic system to ensure that there is no oil leakage and avoid contamination of the hydraulic oil.
Check the pipes and joints: Regularly check the hydraulic pipes, joints and valves to ensure that there is no looseness and leakage.
Keep the system clean: Regularly clean the hydraulic cylinder and other parts of the hydraulic system to prevent impurities from entering the oil.
Reasonable use: Avoid system overload, use the hydraulic cylinder reasonably according to the requirements of the equipment, and prevent failures caused by excessive use.
3. Conclusion
As a key component in the hydraulic system, the troubleshooting and maintenance of the hydraulic cylinder are crucial to ensure the normal operation of the equipment. By understanding the common faults of the hydraulic cylinder and their solutions, it can help operators identify and repair problems in time, improve the stability and work efficiency of the equipment. In actual work, regular inspection and maintenance should not be ignored, which can effectively prevent failures and extend the service life of the hydraulic cylinder.