FAILURE ANALYSIS

A Guide to Analyzing Axial Piston

Pump Failures

Oilgear Company 1 Power

Innovative Fluid
Milwaukee, USA
80-776, Rev. 4/05
 Typical Failure Modes
• Contamination
• Fluid Issue
• Over Pressurization
• Improper Inlet Condition
• Case To Inlet Differential
• Miscellaneous

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 CONTAMINATION
10 Micron,Beta 10 of 4 or Better
ISO Contamination Grade of 21/19/16

O PISTON SEIZED IN BORE, PULLS SHOE OFF

O PISTONS SHOW FINE SCRATCHES,DULL FINISH

O EXCESSIVE WEAR ON SWASHBLOCK FACE, SHOE FACE AND

VALVE PLATE FACE

O EXCESSIVE WEAR ON SADDLE BEARINGS

O HYDRO-DYNAMIC BEARING WORN

O CONTROL UNSTABLE: PISTON STICKING, COMPENSATOR SPOOL

STUCK OR WORN, ORIFICE IN CONTROL PISTON PLUGGED

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 PISTON
THAT
SEIZED IN
BORE
Note Metal
Transfer

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VERTICAL SCRATCHES:
A Clear Indication of
Contamination

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 DULL AND
SCRATCHY
FINISH

Normal Appearance:
A Mirror Finish

Abnormal Appearance:
A Steel Wool Look

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 SHOE WEAR
PLATE
SHOWING
SIGNS OF WEAR
DUE TO DIRT

Scratchy Uneven
Wear

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 Fluid Issue
Viscosity too Low, Operating Temperature too
High, Not a Hydraulic Fluid, Fluid Breaking Down

O PISTON SEIZED IN BORE, PULLS PISTON SHOE

O SHOE FACES AND OR VALVE PLATE FACE
SMEARED
O BALL WORN THROUGH SHOE RETAINER
O SHAFT SEAL LEAKS
O CAVITATION, AIR ENTRAINMENT
O EXCESSIVE SADDLE BEARING WEAR

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 VALVE
PLATE RUN
ON A BAD
FLUID
Note the
Smeared
Running
Surface

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 WORN
FULCRUM
BALL

Typical Failure on
Low Lubricity
Fluid

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 WORN
SADDLE
BEARING
Note the
Material has
Delaminated

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 OVER PRESSURIZATION/SPIKES
Spike Relief Always Recommended

O Excessive swashblock face, cylinder to valve plate wear

O Pistons broken at necks
O Broken shaft where cylinder rides
O Broken tail shaft (dual)
O Control pin broken
O Cylinder cracked between kidneys
O Control O-ring, gasket failure (PVW)

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EXCESSIVE
WEAR ON
CYLINDER
FACE
Cracks
Would
Appear
Between
Kidneys
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TORSIONAL FATIGUE:
Note Cone Shaped Failure

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BENDING FATIGUE
FAILURE
Note Straight Break

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IMPROPER INLET CONDITIONS
Suction Strainer not Recommended
O CAVITATION ON VALVE PLATE FACE
O NOISE (MARBLE SOUND)

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CAVITATION ON
COMPRESSION
BRIDGE

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CASE TO INLET DIFFERENTIAL
In General Differential Cannot Exceed 10 PSI
O SHOE EDGES ROUNDED
O SHOES LOOSE ON BALLS
O SWASHBLOCK WEAR, HALF MOON
SHAPE
O EXCESSIVE WEAR ON BACK OF SHOE
FLANGES
O SEAL RETAINER BENT 18 Power
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WHAT DOES CASE
PRESSURE DO ?

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30 PSI AT INLET, O PSI CASE
 TROUBLE !!!!!

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0 PSI INLET, 30 PSI CASE Innovative Fluid
STAGES OF
DAMAGE
DUE TO
SHOE LIFT

3rd Stage
2nd Stage
1st Stage

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 THE
FINAL
STAGE
OF
SHOE
LIFT

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HALF MOON SHAPED MARKS

A Sure Sign
of Shoe Lift

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ROLLED SHOES: THE TELL
TALE OF SHOE LIFT

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WEAR ON
SHOE
RETAINER
FROM
SHOE
FLANGES

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BENT SEAL RETAINER

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 MISCELLANEOUS
O INPUT SHAFT BROKEN
8MISALIGNMENT
8TORQUE REVERSAL
O CONTROL INSTABILITY
8AIR
8INCREASE CONTROL PISTON ORIFICE
O PUMP VIBRATES
8MISALIGNMENT
8COUPLING HALF'S TOUCHING

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 HELPFUL HINTS FOR
ANALYZING BASKET CASES
O The last piece to fail will have the least amount of damage
O Try to piece together the broken parts. This may seem like
a waste of time but many times you will observe things
which can help you determine the original cause of failure.
O Get the history of events:
8What recently changed ?
8What was going on just prior to failure ?
8How long was pump run ?
8Talk to the operators 28 Power
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 KEYS TO FAILURE
ANALYSIS
O Don’t go into a customers problem with a
preconceived idea about the cause

O Don’t assume anything, verify everything

O Don’t overlook the obvious

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