While hydraulic hoses are built to be durable, hydraulic hoses can experience leakage, damage or breakage over time. Consequently, that might impact the machine's overall efficiency, increase costs or contribute to operational and environmental hazards. You might be required to perform urgent field repairs to keep operations going before a professional arrives. 

Temporary hydraulic hose repairs can be effortless if you follow these six simple steps:

Identify the Problematic Hose

Minimum pressure tolerance is vital for each function your equipment performs, from lifting, pulling or cutting. That means your equipment might have different hydraulic hoses with varying minimal pressure ratings. Therefore keep in mind your hose's specifications before repairs. That's crucial when you avoid using an incorrect hose, which can be dangerous when repairing a damaged one. When in doubt, always consult with your mechanic. 

Remove the Affected Sections

After going through step one, you should proceed to remove the affected sections by cutting them out. Whether it's a defective end coupling or a leaking midsection of your hose, consider cutting it off. Proceed to clean the cut section and get rid of any contaminants, including dirt and dust. That will be crucial in preventing any potential contamination of your equipment's hydraulic fluid. 

Use the Appropriate Adapters for Installation

Some cases might demand the use of a hydraulic adapter to finish up the remaining repairs. However, you might lack the appropriate hydraulic coupling during emergency repairs. If that's the case, ensuring your repair kit has a wide variety of adapters can be helpful. When required, consider installing the adapters into the correct ports. Ensure a solid connection by proper torquing and tightening all the couplings and adapters. If you are uncertain of how to do this properly, consult an expert or your system manufacturer.  

Check the Right Hose Length 

The next step will be placing the hose assembly in place and confirming that you have the correct length. Keep in mind that overstretched and inadequately routed hoses can result in extra pressure and premature failure. Since hydraulic hoses experience constant pressure, using overly short hoses can potentially result in expensive system failures.

Ensure Correct Sealing 

After confirming the ideal hose length, thread the hose ends into the opposite ports and confirm sufficient sealing has been achieved. Make sure you've double-checked proper sealing to prevent future problems. Furthermore, avoid twisting or overtightening the hoses when threading them into place.

Circulate the Hydraulic Fluid

The final step will be turning on your machine's hydraulic system and circulating the hydraulic fluid at minimal pressure. This step is vital to assess your hoses for potential leakage spots or connections. That's also vital in purging any air left in the hoses. Double-check for leaks by rerunning the system for several minutes.