FAQ

1. 1. Check the rotation of the prime mover matching it with the pump rotation
2. 2. Check the drive shaft alignment (equally aligned) to avoid any end thrust which can and will prematurely cause pump failure
3. 3. Check Oil level and change filter elements
4. 4. Check inlet and outlet ports to assure all connections are properly installed and check all mounting bolts and flanges to assure all are tight and properly aligned.
5. 5. If inlet has a shut off valve make sure it is open before starting prime mover.
6. 6. The spline shaft models also need to be lubricated with an anti-fretting grease or similar lubricant.
7. 7. Fill the pump with fluid through the outlet port is the pump is mounted above the fluid level.
8. 8. Place all controls in the neutral position so the pump is unloaded during the initial start up.
9. 9. Intermittently operate (jog) the pump until it primes, it may be necessary to loosen the outlet fitting temporarily to purge trapped air until a steady output flow is observed.
10. 10. Failure of the pump to prime in a short period of time indicates incorrect assembly or restricted flow from the reservoir.

1. 1. Check the rotation of the prime mover (electric motor or engine) matching it with the pump rotation.
2. 2. Check the drive shaft alignment (equally aligned) to avoid any end thrust which can and will prematurely cause pump failure. 
3. 3. Check oil level and change filter elements. 
4. 4. Fill the case of the pump with hydraulic fluid, failure to fill the case of the pump with oil could cause pump failure on start up. 
5. 5. The case drain must be returned to the hydraulic reservoir by separate line and be full sized. 
6. 6. Check inlet and outlet ports to assure all connections are properly installed and check all mounting bolts and flanges to assure all are tight and properly aligned. 
7. 7. If inlet has a shut off valve make sure it is open before starting prime mover. 
8. 8. Make sure pressure compensator is at a low setting 300-500 psi. 
9. 9. Intermittently operate (jog) the pump, checking for correct rotation and until it primes. It may be necessary to loosen the outlet fitting temporarily to purge trapped air until a steady output flow is observed. 
10. 10. Once pump has started you can now set the flow and pressure adjustments for the system. 

A filter cart needs to turn the fluid in the reservoir 100 times to have a significant impact on the oil cleanliness. To calculate the time needed, take the volume of the reservoir (in gallons), times 100 divided by the flow rate (in gallons/minute) of the filter cart. This is the minimum number of minutes you need to run the cart. Other factors to remember are:

The hydraulic reservoir is an important hydraulic component and properly filling with fluid is vital to a well maintained system and long life of the components.

The reservoir performs important functions such: 
• Dissipating heat through its walls
• Conditioning the fluid by helping settle the contaminants
• Relief of air from the systems
• Providing mounting support for the pump and other components.

A proper tank has the following:
• Baffle plate for preventing the return fluid from entering the pump inlet
• For maintenance purposes a reservoir should have an inspection cover
• A filter breather for air exchange
• Protection for filler plug
• Level indicator for checking the fluid level
• Connections for suction discharge and drain lines.

The level of fluid in a reservoir is very important. If the level is too low, there is a chance of air getting entrapped in the outlet pipe going to the pump suction. This may lead to cavitation of the pump resulting in pump damage.  A substantial space above the fluid in the reservoir must be included to allow volume change, venting of any entrapped air and to prevent any froth on the surface from spilling out.  NOTE:  NEVER FILL THE HYDRAULIC RESERVIOR WHILE THE SYSTEM IS RUNNING, DOING SO COULD RESULT IN OVER FILLING AND THIS CAN CAUSE MINOR TO MAJOR CONSEQUENCES.  A HYDRAULIC RESERVIOR NEEDS TO BREATHE FOR PROPER OPERATION.

It is highly recommended that a closed filling system be used to fill your hydraulic reservoir.  By closed filling system, I am referring to using a filter cart and quick disconnect at the reservoir. It is not recommended to fill the reservoir thru the filler/breather.  Contamination can enter quite easily which will affect your system long term.   By using a filter cart, the oil can be pumped from the 55 gallon drum or whatever container it is held in, thru a filter, filtering the oil prior to entering the reservoir.  By using a quick disconnect at the reservoir you reduce the risk of contamination infusion, Wiping off the coupler and nipple prior to connection will reduce the chance of contamination entering the hydraulic system.

New hydraulic oil in a 55 gallon drum or other storage container, though it may be new oil is not really clean oil, so it is always recommended when filling the reservoir with new oil pump the oil thru a filter with the proper ISO filtering level recommended by the manufacturer of the hydraulic components.

If a little common sense is used when filling or adding hydraulic fluid, and the system is well maintained the hydraulic system can provide long life of the components, which will result in increased production due to less component failure due to contamination.

To ensure the sound design and smooth operation of hydraulic systems, the hydraulic fluid must be carefully selected. Many different types of fluids are available today, each with unique characteristics. Indeed, the ability to transfer power from one place to another—a property exhibited by plain water, the first hydraulic fluid—is only one requirement for a good fluid. Hydraulic applications abound, the most common base is petroleum oil, which runs the vast majority of hydraulic systems and forms the standard for fluid performance. Most hydraulic components are designed for use with these types of fluids.

Among the factors in hydraulic fluid selection are lubrication and viscosity. Lubrication refers to the fluid’s ability to reduce friction and heat between the hydraulic equipment’s metal components, which slide against each other. The hydraulic fluid must form a thin film between these components to minimize damage. Film strength is determined mostly by viscosity—or the fluid’s resistance to flow. To figure out the best viscosity for a fluid, the hydraulic system’s maximum and minimum operating temperatures must be examined. At the highest temperatures, the fluid must be sufficiently thick for lubrication and low internal leakage. At the lowest temperatures, it must be thin enough for easy flow.

Hydraulic fluids must also protect against corrosion, oxidation and the wearing down of components. Water getting into the hydraulic fluid is the primary culprit of corrosion. Even condensation from humid air can corrode the fluid. Corrosion also takes place when the fluid itself, or a product of its decomposition, attacks system components. Making sure that the fluid is compatible with the materials in the components is therefore a crucial step. Additives, such as defoamers and demulsifiers, are used in corrosion prevention. They not only help fluids resist water retention but also air retention, which causes harmful cavitation. Oxidation or fluid aging, on the other hand, affects all hydraulic fluids except for water. During oxidation, fluids can make sludge, varnish and acids, which are all damaging to the system’s components. The most effective preventive measure is to keep temperatures below 135° F. An alternative solution is adding special antioxidants, which allow fluids to function for a long time at higher temperatures. The third problem is wear and tear, common in components such as vane and gear pumps where metal-to-metal contact is a design feature. The fluid must not only be a lubricant, but it must also have anti-wear properties. A solution of special additives is utilized to form a protective barrier for metal parts.

Other considerations include elastomer compatibility and safety. Hydraulic equipment such as seals, hoses and accumulator bladders are made up of elastomer materials, which must be compatible with the fluid through the range of system temperatures and as the fluid ages. To ensure compatibility, manufacturers or general equipment guidelines can be consulted. Today’s hydraulic systems have high pressures and tight tolerances. Many hydraulic system users are drawn to petroleum oil’s combination of high performance and low cost to fulfill these requirements.

Of the many petroleum based oils, the most common are ISO 68, ISO 46, ISO 32 and to a lesser degree ISO 22 are used in the industry today.  These fluids have the additives, deformers, demulsifiers, inhibitors, and additives needed for most applications.  Other fluids for specific operating environments are also available.  Please consult your equipment supplier and fluid supplier for specific applications.

Water Glycol fluids are used because of the inherent fire resistant nature. They do not provide the same level of lubricity as traditional hydraulic oils. When using water glycol fluid the pumps should not be use at over 75% of maximum pressure or RPM. By using the pump at these lower pressure and flow rate the life of the pump should be similar to normal. Remember that some water will evaporate during normal operation, and systems operating at higher temperatures will see accelerated evaporation. Monthly fluid testing is required to maintain the correct water to glycol ratio, and replacement water must be demonized and filtered. “Tap water” should not be added to the reservoir.

Many filter housing have an indicator which shifts from Green to Red when it is time to change the filter element. Sometime this is a needle pointing to a red or green area of a gage, other times it is a pop-up button which changes color.
While waiting for the indicator is effective, many machine operators prefer to change in time. The most used change out interval is 6 months, and the interval should never longer than one year. Even with an indicator, every element should be changed out at least once a year. Fluid sampling and laboratory analysis is also important. But this is more to monitor the equilibrium cleanliness level of the fluid. Waiting until the laboratory report shows elevated contamination levels is not advisable, as the hydraulic components would run on dirty fluid until the higher levels are detected, and the elements changed. Remember filter elements are always less expensive than damaged components.

The color of a fluid (mostly) indicated the oxidation level of the hydraulic fluid; it does not indicate contamination levels or solids. Any fluid which changes to a darker color is not in usable condition. Most often the color change is the result of overheating at some point in the hydraulic circuit. Burned (dark colored) fluid should be removed from the system and properly disposed. Cloudy hydraulic fluids are normally the indication of water contamination. Small amounts of cloudiness will clear are the fluid is used, but “milky” colored fluid should be removed from the machine and properly disposed.

Remove the four bolts holding the pump together the cover will spring up, this is normal. Remove the cover along with the spring and pressure plate so the cam ring is assessable. Pull up on the cam ring only leaving the rotor and vanes in place. Flip the cam ring over and reinstall. Reverse the disassembly steps and the rotation is changed. 

Click Here for the answer in PDF format, as the answer is long.

Click Here for the answer in PDF format, as the answer is long.

No, in order to change the rotation on an A10V pump it is required to open the pump housing and change the cradle and lens plate in addition to changing the valve block. 

Noise is never a good thing in a hydraulic system, this is especially true if the noise changes between when the pump is on or off stroke. Most likely the pump is experiencing some degree of cavitation, which is causing the noise. The life of the pump, and the operation of the system are negatively affected by this situation. One cause of cavitation is the pump is not able to get all the oil it needs on the suction side. The other is the oil flowing into the pump has air bubble entrapped in the fluid. The first thing to check is the oil level in the reservoir at it low point. When all the cylinders are extended is the inlet of the pump well covered? Normally in a well designed system, the oil level must always be visible in the site gage. The second thing to check is the inlet suction filter. Sometimes these filters are accessible outside the tank, but most often they are a screen submerged in the reservoir.  Even if it means draining all the fluids, this inlet filter needs to be checked and cleaned. The third step is all the hoses and connections on the suction side need to be checked or tightened. After these three steps, if the oil is milky looking in the reservoir, but clears when the oil is allowed to sit, air is entering the system from somewhere. Check all hoses, and tighten all fittings and connections, until the source of the air entering the oil is found and eliminated.

If all the settings on the pump have been checked and the rest of  the system has been ruled out as an issue then the only conclusion is the pump has been severely damaged internally, this will also allow for excessively high case flow. 

FluiDyne has a large database of component part dimensions and can identify most pumps based on various part sizes and photos. Please contact customer service, we will be glad to help you identify your pump and quote you the correct parts.  

The H series motor uses a Gerotor while the rest of the Char-Lynn motors use a Geroler. Essentially a Geroler, has rolls added to the lobes of the outer ring of the Orbit gear set. These rolls act as a roller bearing and reduce friction, increase mechanical efficiency and reduce wear in systems with low fluid viscosity. In addition, the Geroler type typically provides smoother performance at low speed conditions. Applications running at less than 100 RPM should consider using a Geroler motor. 

For the VHO kit flip the ring, rotor and vanes over and that will chane the rotation of the kit. If it is a VQ kit, you  will need to flip the flex plates, ring, rotor and vanes to change the rotation.  

Yes, the only way is to put it on a test stand and pressure the A port to see what the rotation is. Pressurizing A port will give CW rotation, but that is the only way of knowing if the rotation is correct outside of tearing it down.