Seals and hydraulic equipment in forklifts

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From pumps and valves to cylinders, mobile hydraulics are widespread and find applications in many different industrial areas. These devices are an integral part of our daily lives and are often taken for granted. They provide the power to lift heavy loads, exert high forces for clamping or pressing and to accurately position a wide range of mechanical arms.

Mobile hydraulics are one of the main components found in forklift trucks, providing the power to manoeuvre the forks, for example. These vehicles have become indispensable in a number of working environments, as they are particularly useful in both the areas of manufacturing and logistics, ensuring items are in the right place at the right time.

As a result, these trucks are often in constant use, meaning that the vehicle and its many sub-systems require regular maintenance and repair, which can have a large impact on productivity.  While these tasks may be carried out in house by the forklift owner, replacement parts need not be immediately available and it may not always be possible for the owner to keep parts in stock.  Seals-Shop.com offers many replacement parts, ready for immediate shipping to help make maintenance and repair easier and faster.

In the following example, we will focus on the maintenance of a forklift truck assumed to be operating in temperatures ranging from -10°C to 95°C.

The mast or lift cylinder is an essential part of the forklift, controlling the vertical assembly on the front that allows the truck to fulfil its main function: raising and lowering the load in question. As such, these cylinders are subjected the largest volume of fluid flow.

When this hydraulic cylinder needs to be repaired, it is recommended that a polyurethane u-cup is used as a primary seal, together with a high-strength nylon wear ring as a guiding element, together with a polyurethane wiper to achieve an optimum cost-performance ratio. A combination of the RU9 u-cup, Himod Slydring and Zurcon Scraper DA24 make for an suitable configuration.