Hydraulic hoses are critical components of any hydraulic system, and their lifespan is essential for the system’s efficiency and longevity. Several factors impact hydraulic hose life, from environmental conditions to maintenance practices. If you heed the tips below, you can enjoy long life from your hoses. One of the most critical factors impacting hydraulic hose […]
Hose Assembly Blog
What causes hydraulic hose failure?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Hydraulic hose failures are much like vehicle collisions — they’re not accidents. No longer can you blame weather, road conditions or distractions because it’s always someone’s fault. Unless a meteorite slams into your windshield, causing you to blow through a red light, there is always a cause of collisions. The […]
Hydraulic hose routing considerations
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Hydraulic hose enjoys the title of go-to fluid conveyance of choice for many hydraulic machines. Although steel tube is also popular and provides a tidy, permanent solution to plumbing, it is less easily serviced and replaced. Hydraulic hose, when properly manufactured, routed and installed, offers a tidy and permanent solution […]
Hydraulic hose tube – it’s the inside that counts
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor We’re all taught from a young age to place focus and worth on what’s inside, and the more thought you put into this concept, the more it rings true. For example, would an orange taste any less sweet if, on the outside, it looked like dragon fruit? And, of course, […]
When should you use banjo hose fittings?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor There isn’t much in the fluid power world taking a unique spin on a familiar concept. Pumps, valves and actuators operate and look much the same as decades ago, especially if you ignore electronic advancements. Hydraulic components like the internal gear pump and electrohydraulic actuator are certainly worth your time […]
What hydraulic hose cutting blades should you use?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Every hydraulic hose must first be cut to length before assembly, and one would think all cutting methods are equal. The truth is quite the opposite actually. Any safe, reliable hose assembly requires a perfectly cut hose tip to allow the ends to fit snug before crimping. Any amount of […]
Why should you cap your hose assemblies?
Once a hydraulic hose assembly has been properly cleaned and crimped, there is still one more important step to ensuring they remain clean and contamination-free before use. Plumbing systems are often the largest locations for built-in contamination versus the rest of the hydraulic system. So, immediately capping the hose ends with either protective injection molded […]
Why should you clean your new hose assemblies?
Hydraulic hoses may appear clean upon arrival in your facility, but every step of the hose fabrication process creates internal contamination that needs to be removed. For instance, they may have contamination from the manufacturer — residual mandrel lubrication may still be inside the hose. Additionally, unless they are sealed from manufacture to your shelves, hoses […]
Which is better — spiral or braided hydraulic hose?
Hydraulic hose uses a reinforcement material sandwiched between its inner tube and outer cover. Although modern designs have used anything from textile fiber to polyester, most hydraulic hoses use steel wire as their reinforcement. Within the steel reinforcement type, there are two major construction styles – braided or spiral wire. Wire has almost no bending […]
The evolution of hydraulic hose crimping
From their humble hand-operated beginnings to IoT-enabled machines, hydraulic hose crimpers are a critical piece of equipment that any fluid power user should understand. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in this hydraulic industry who has never made a hydraulic hose assembly. Hydraulic technicians make their livings fabricating plumbing of […]
