Tips for Bleeding Out the Air in Your Hydraulic System
Before you bleed out the air in your steel tubes and other hydraulic system components, it is important to understand what type of air is in the system. Air within the system may be:
- Entrapped “Free” Air
- Dissolved Air
- Entrained “Mixed” Air
How to Bleed Air from a Hydraulic System
Bleeding only works for “free” air pockets where the air has not mixed with the fluid. For dissolved air, you can remove it by raising the temperature of the fluid until the air is released. This should only be done if absolutely necessary as hydraulic oil will normally tend to be at least 10% dissolved air.
With “mixed” air, which appears as froth or foam, you just need to pass the fluid through a gauze or screen designed to remove air bubbles from the fluid. However, to ensure a healthy system it is important the cause of the “mixed” air is discovered. If allowed to continue, the oil will be rapidly degraded and circuit components damaged.
How to Get Air Out of a Hydraulic System
- Gather Supplies – You will need the right tools, along with hydraulic fluid, tubing, and clean, empty bottles.
- Work on a Level Surface – To make bleeding air easier, the surface should be level.
- Remove Parts and Components in Your Way – If possible, remove any parts and components from the system to make accessing the lines being bled easier.
- Bleed the Farthest Lines First – Start by bleeding the line farthest away from the pump and work inward, with the lines closest to the pump being bled last, and only bleed one line at a time.
- Keep the Reservoir Filled – Make sure to keep fluid in the reservoir; otherwise, if it runs out, you will only be introducing more air into the lines and will have to start anew.
If you need bleeder lines to purge a hydraulic system, tubing, and other related hydraulic parts, components, and pumps, call the hydraulic experts at White House Products Ltd. by phoning +44 (0) 1475 742500 today!
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