Alamo MACHETE Product Service Manual page 173

POSSIBLE FAILURE / CAUSE & SOLUTION
Pump Wear: (Rapid Excessive Wear)
CAUSE:
Contamination In System?
SOLUTION:
Locate and correct source of contaminants, This could include the complete system,
Pump, Motor, Valves, Hoses, Tank, Oil, Filter System or any other component including
your source of replacement Oil Supply. The Contaminants must be found and completly
removed and stopped. The Solution is to repair or replace worn parts, Completly Flush
and Clean all Hydraulic Components, Install New Clean Recommended Oil.
CAUSE:
Cavitation?
SOLUTION:
Cavitation is caused by inadequate amount of Fluid (Hydraulic Oil) reaching Pump,
Usually a restriction of some sort in the suction lines but can also be caused by an
unvented Tank. This will cause a vacuum when the Pump starts demanding Oil, The
Pump cannot pull Oil out of this vacuum. Other Problems such as plugged Suction
Screens or very Thick Oil can cuase cavitation. This must be found and corrected
before repairing old Pump ot installing new one.
CAUSE:
Air In The Oil?
SOLUTION:
Run System for a few minutes. Check for Air in the Oil in the Tank. Air entrained Oil
has a foamy appearance. If Air is present, find the Air Leak and correct it. Air Leak
can be in the Suction Line and Oil may not leak out because there may only be Oil in
that location when the Pump is sucking it in. With the Tractor Engine Off you can
find a leak by pressurizing the Tank, This will not take but a few pounds of pressure
(10 PSI or Less) look for leakage in the Suction Lines, Because the Oil Pick-Up is
lower than the Oil Level this will force Oil out the leak. Leaks in Hoses and at Fittings
can draw Air into System as Oil Flows Past. Systems that have severe or prolonged
Air Entry Problems may have Experienced Pump Damage.
CAUSE:
Pump Not Pre-Lubed before Starting?
SOLUTION:
Repair or Replace Pump, Fill Pump with Oil during Assembly and or before Starting,
This can be done by pouring Oil into the Suction Hose and letting it run into Pump as
you are connecting Suction Hose, The Pump should have been Assembled using
lubricant as it was assembled. The Machete and Brahma this is not required as the
Pump is lower than the tank. This will make the suction line full of Oil to Pump
CAUSE:
Incorrect Oil Used?
SOLUTION:
Use recommended Hydraulic Oil, DO NOT mix Oils that are not compatible, in some
cases it may be required to drain and replace all the oil. See Specification Chart for
recommended Oil Type. When repairing unit it is recommended that Oil is updated
to recommended Oil.
CAUSE:
Water In Oil?
SOLUTION:
Moisture in Oil adversely affects the lubricating ability of the Oil. The Source of the
Moisture entry must be found and corrected, The System cleaned and flushed, All
damaged components replaced. DO NOT operate system with moisture in it
because the moisture will turn to Steam when heated, Steam will pit and damage
components of Pump, Valves and Motors. As well as the Lubricating ability of the
Oil will be diminished.
Machete (Service Manual) 04/04
© 2004 Alamo Group Inc.
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