What are the factors that affect the useful life of hydraulic hoses?

The hydraulic hose and its respective couplings have a limited life, this depends on the conditions to which the hose is subjected, as there are times when they have more severe exposures to the recommended, such as continuous use at maximum pressure and temperature recommended among others, will limit and significantly reduce their time of use.

Another factor is when an inadequate selection of hose, poor installation and poor maintenance, can cause premature failure and critical damage to both personnel and the equipment being used, since the hose assemblies should be regularly inspected and if they show signs of wear or damage such as holes, abrasion, cracking or other damage that may occur, they should be replaced immediately.

How do I do this?

• The pressure of the hydraulic system should not be higher than the working pressure of the hose, these excesses are detrimental to the assembly, for this reason, should be taken into account when selecting a hydraulic hose. When the pressure is greater than 1.25 times the specified pressure, hose life is reduced by 50%.
• Do not expose the hose to internal or external temperatures exceeding the recommended limits, in this case, refer to additional technical data when hydraulic fluids contain emulsions or solutions, because it is normally suggested not to exceed the maximum operating temperature for any of them regardless of the hose temperature range.
• The hydraulic assembly (tube, cover, reinforcement and couplings) must be compatible with the fluid that the hydraulic hoses carry. These hoses are for oil passage.
• The hose size (inside diameter) must be able to handle the required fluid volume, an inside diameter too small for the fluid displacement causes heat generation and damage to the tube.
• The hose must be controlled, protected or guided to minimize risk of damage due to excessive bending, shock or contact with moving or corrosive parts.
• When installing and removing the pressure hose connection, do not remove or forcibly tighten it to protect the connection threads. At the same time, the thread surface should be coated with lubricating oil, after disassembly a protective sleeve should be used to protect the connection thread.

These indications will prolong the life of your hoses and also save money by using this type of products correctly. In addition, it is important to be professionally advised at the time of purchase with the STAMP method and verify that it is the right hose for the fluid you require.