Hydraulic Hose – What you need to know…

Hydraulic hose is used to transport fluid to or between hydraulic components. Hydraulic components can include; pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, tanks and many more. To provide extra strength when hydraulic systems are used at high pressure and temperature, hydraulic hose is made up of numerous layers. Hydraulic hoses are a vital part of a hydraulic system and due to their flexibility, they are able to bend and manoeuvre into tight spaces.

What are hydraulic hoses made of?

Typically, hydraulic hose has 3 main layers. Firstly, the inner tube used to carry the fluid. This must be compatible with the type of fluid it will carry and also must offer some flexibility. Secondly, the reinforcement layer which offers the strength and determines the working pressure of the hose. The 3 most common types of reinforcement are braided, spiral and helical. Finally, the outer cover is often weather, oil and abrasion resistant, dependent on the type of environment it will be used in. This adds an extra layer of protection. Our extensive line of hydraulic hose and fittings are suitable for low, medium and high-pressure applications.

5 ways to lengthen your hydraulic hose lifespan:

Hydraulic hose should typically last up to 5 years. If yours is failing in less than this time period then there may be external factors shortening their lifespan. Below we’ve provided 5 helpful tips on how to lengthen your hose lifespan.

1. Ensure the hose is not pulled too tight and that there a no kinks/knots – this is usually due to poor installation, and can cause structural weakness but can be easily avoided if fitted correctly.
2. Abrasion – physical external damage is the most common cause of hose failure. Ensuring the hoses are not rubbing against each other or surrounding surfaces will help increase its lifespan.
3. Protection– adding a hose guard, hose cover, hose sleeve or hose shield can prove beneficial to protecting the hydraulic hose from abrasion, flames and movement. Our hose protection equipment is designed to provide reliability and long-lasting protection for not only the hose but also for operatives as hose sleeves hold the energy of any potential bursts.
4. Never re-end hose – re-ending hoses is a very dangerous practice and can be fatal.
5. Maintenance – Managing several products can be straining when it comes to maintenance, but it is a vital process which needs to be carried out. Luckily for our customers, BSP use Parker Tracking System (PTS) to tag all our hydraulic hose, so you and your team will no longer waste time finding parts when it comes to the time of replacing your hose. Regardless of where the original product was created, PTS is the quickest way to access your components service history.

Common hose issues:

• Contamination – dirty oil/fluid running through the hydraulic hose will cause the inner tube to deteriorate and cavitate. Additionally, not correctly flushing the hose during assembly can cause contamination. It is recommended that the fitting ends are capped during transportation. This will minimise risk of recontamination and help keep the hose clean.
• Tube erosion – this usually causes external leakage and is caused by high pressures of fluid running through the hose.
• Incorrect insertion depth – if a hose assembly is not correctly assembled then the fittings can blow off the end of the hose.
• General wear & tear – hoses are put through demanding applications daily. If they not inspected regularly they can cause leakage or bursts. Damage to the external cover/layer are a good indication that there is internal deterioration.

Hydraulic hose assembly:

BSP offer a hose assembly service in our purpose-built hose facility. We can make hoses while you wait in our Parker Store Truck Hydraulics Centre. Or we can supply on a next day delivery service customised to your exact requirements. Whatever you require, BSP have the stock and facilities ready to assist you.

For more information on the services we offer or if you need help determining the right hose assembly for your application, then please contact our expert sales engineers!