Mobile Hose Fixers

www.mobilehosefixersgoldcoast.com.au

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Hydraulic Log Splitter

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What are the uses of pressure washer hose?

There is a huge range of things you can clean with a pressure washer hose from paths and driveways to vehicle engines and under bodies, to kids toys to roofs and gutters.

Don’t forget to add the correct soap or detergent for the job

With most pressure washers, there’s a reservoir and a selection of nozzles for spraying soapy solutions. Most things you’ll clean can benefit with a small amount of added cleaner which makes the job a bit easier.

Usually a soapy type solution is sprayed on then left to soak for a few minutes before being rinsed off

Start by Using the Slow or Larger Nozzles

Your pressure washer hose will come with a selection of nozzles for different pressures or you may have just one adjustable nozzle. Start cleaning with the highest setting as this will not damage the item you’re cleaning. If you find it’s not too effective the move to a smaller nozzle or adjust your nozzle unlit it cleans properly this way you’ll not damage the surface

Outdoor furniture

Most outdoor furniture is suitable for being cleaned with a pressure washer, such as aluminum, wood, plastic and cane. Always start in an inconspicuous place to make sure you don’t remove the paint or special protective layers.

Outdoor and Boat Cushions

Most outdoor upholstery is designed to be pressure washed, but don’t hold the nozzle too close. After washing set in the sun to dry

Concrete

All concrete surfaces can be cleaned using a pressure washer hose, if there are oil or grease stains pretreat them with a degreaser, then clean them using a suitable detergent and nozzle. Try and use an even sweeping motion to avoid getting a streaked effect

Woodwork

Be careful with wood work not to damage the surface by keeping a good working distance. For walls, fences start at the top and work down

Bikes and other Outdoor Toys

As there are a few soft parts like seats and tyres on bikes, it’s a good idea to start with a wide nozzle setting and wash the whole bike or toy and then go over the hard parts with a finer nozzle if necessary

Rubbish Bins

For best results pour a little detergent inside and allow it to soak for a few minutes, then wash out both the inside and outside

Outdoor Play Equipment

Outdoor play equipment like children’s play sets and climbing things as well as swings and slides need to be cleaned regularly, but avoid using toxic chemicals on kid-centric surfaces

Wagons, slides and playsets can also be pressure-washed. Start with a 40-degree nozzle because these surfaces may gouge easily. It’s important when using as pressure washer, that use only use a non-toxic cleaning agent on these kid-centric surfaces.

Always Use Safety Equipment When Using a Pressure Washer Hose

Using a pressure washer is different than a regular hose because of the high pressure of the water and the potential to cause serious harm to skin and eyes, not only from the water jet but from objects dislodged by it.

Using a pressure washer hose requires consideration to the surface to be cleaned and having the appropriate nozzle size or setting to avoid any damage while using or personal injury.

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How Hydraulic Ram Pumps are used

For people living in rural areas or places where a good source of fresh drinking water is readily available, but is not on the high areas of their property, one of the best ways to move it to the top of their site or farm is to use a hydraulic ram pump. This is because this type of pump does not rely on an external energy source, but uses the kinetic energy of water and gravity for lifting the water. The use of hydraulic ram pumps is a more permacultural solution as it does not rely on fossil fuel energy so has a very low ecological cost.

Hydraulic ram pumps have been used for several hundred years and remain popular because:

They use the force of the water to power them and do not require another power source

They are very simple with only two moving parts

The way in which they work is they use the momentum of a large amount of water to lift a smaller amount up hill.

For a ram pump to work they require a good source of water above the place where the ram pump is located.

For example, if you have a stream or pond in an uphill area and place the pump, downhill, by allowing water to travel down to the pump through a pipe you can pump water uphill. In the pump there is a valve that lets the water flow and build up speed and energy.

When the water reaches the right speed it shuts the valve

When the valve shuts it causes the kinetic energy in the water to transfer to a second valve forcing it open and allows high-pressure water to flow into the delivery pipe

The delivery pipe has an air chamber which allows it to capture the high pressure water as it compresses during the impulse caused by the shutting of the first valve

Then the pressure in the pump drops allowing the first valve to reopen and build up the required water pressure again, which in turn causes it to shut and force the second valve to open again

This cycle is repeated continuously 24/7, although only a small amount of water is transferred each time because it’s a continuous process, a large amount of water can be moved uphill over time

The advantage of using a hydraulic ram pump is they are very robust and have a very long working life. A hydraulic ram pump located 3 meters below the water supply can cope with raising the water in the delivery pipe to 30 meters above the pump with no energy costs.

The disadvantage of this system is that it uses a lot of water to move a relatively small amount of water;typically it pumps only about 10 percent of the water it uses to the required location. The rest of the water is lost as the hydraulic pump builds its needed momentum.

Using a hydraulic ram pump is a very energy efficient, but water wasteful way to move water. It has been used for hundreds of years in large and small applications where water is required in higher elevations than it naturally occurs for agricultural and domestic water supplies

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Hydraulic Wood and Log Splitters

Quality Hydraulic log splitter items. Two stage Hi Lo pumps, Auto spring back control, Large Aussie built cylinders

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Double acting Hydraulic Cylinder or Ram Made in AUSTRALIA. Designed for high force hydraulic applications e.g. Cranes. Hook Bin Trucks, Front end Loaders, Backhoes, Tractors, Farm Implements and super duty Log Spliters.

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Important things to consider while making a hydraulic cylinder repair

Many small scale farmers have equipment that uses hydraulics and hydraulic cylinders of some description. The chances then are fairly high that at some stage you will need to make some hydraulic cylinder repairs. When you are thinking about making a repair consider these ideas:

Find the correct parts first

There are many different types and sizes of hydraulic cylinder, each with its own particular parts, so it is important to have the correct rebuild or repair kit before you start the disassembly

Usually you will find the part numbers stamped on the cap on the outside of the cylinder

All major brands of hydraulic cylinders have spare parts available through their dealerships

One advantage of using these dealerships is they will also be able to supply a printout of the parts diagram to help your job or they will give a website to download your own

If you are not near a dealership you can order the parts online

Safety First

Hydraulic cylinders are often very heavy, so everything needs to be properly supported to prevent any possible movement or collapse that could result in injury to hands, fingers and limbs.

When working with any equipment it’s important to use the correct sized tools

Hydraulic Cylinder Disassembly

The first step is to release any pressure in the cylinder. This is best done by loosening the hydraulic lines from all parts of the cylinder and removing them if need be

It may be necessary to remove the pin from the piston rod end

If it’s very tight, a tap from a hammer may be needed to loosen it so it can be unscrewed

Once the gland is removed, pull the piston rod from the cylinder.

If it’s a large hydraulic cylinder it may need to be properly supported and if necessary a winch can be used to pull it out

It is a good idea to keep the work area very clean ant to avoid letting any dirt or other contaminants on any parts so be careful and take your time and ensure all parts especially the fine threads are fully protected or it could result in costly repairs

Remove parts and place in order on a clean cloth

Once the piston rod is free, place the rod end back into the pin connector. Then, unscrew the piston rod retaining bolt. If this is too tight it is probably because of a thread locking substance so mild heat will be needed to loosen it. Do not overheat the piston

Reassembly and finishing

Follow the reassembly diagram from the rebuild kit

Identify each part before reassembly especially matching O rings and seals

It is vital they are installed evenly and in the correct order

Carefully examine one at a time each O ring in its groove then remove it

Clean the seat and groove carefully and replace the o ring

When making hydraulic cylinder repairs, it is important to keep everything clean and ensure the whole job is properly supported to prevent accidents. Using the correct tool make the job easier and safer and have the correct parts on hand before you start working on the repair.

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5 Benefits Of Hydraulic Log Splitter

A hydraulic log splitter is a simple device that efficiently splits logs into perfectly even pieces using the power of leavers and hydraulics. The five main benefits of using this method to split logs are:

Provides Optimum Safety

The design and operation of a hydraulic log splitter is very safe and eliminates the need for saws and axes. There are no sharp edges, avoiding the possibility of the user being accidentally cut

Easy Durable Design

Because the robust design with few moving parts, hydraulic log splitters have a long trouble free life. In the event of the hydraulic jack breaking down it can easily be removed to be fixed or replaced.

Strong heavy duty steed frame

The strong metal frame is made to last for years of continued use and take the pressure needed to repeatedly split logs. The splitting force is between five to fifty tons depending on the size of splitter you have. They can be used in a horizontal or vertical position with a cradle designed to stop the logs from falling or flying off while being used.

Uniform size and shape

One huge advantage when using a hydraulic log splitter is that the logs are always split into a uniform shape. This makes the piles of split wood very easy to place neatly into a large stack where they will quickly dry out ready for burning.

The split wood is a perfect size for using in all types of fires and furnaces, from open style hearths, pot belly stoves, home heating furnaces, kilns and boilers.

Another advantage when using a hydraulic log splitter is that there is virtually no mess, no saw dust and no waste. Once the logs are cut into uniform lengths, they can easily be transported to the splitter before being split

Ease of Maintenance

Hydraulic log splitters are very easy to maintain and function smoothly and efficiently. There are no power cords that could become tangled, no need to buy fuel or put up with fumes as is the case in the petrol powered models.

Checking the hydraulic fluid level is easy, but it’s necessary to ensure that any replacement fluid is of high quality and free of any contaminants such as water when topping up. Store the hydraulic fluid in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. If you suspect there may be moisture from condensation present tip the fluid into a wide clean container and place it in the sun so any moisture will evaporate away, then return it to a plastic bottle and seal it properly.

In the event that the internal seals begin to leak, they are easily replaced as are the bearings located in the seals central spindles for opening and closing the valve. See the owner’s manual or take it to a service center if you are unsure how to replace the seals or bearings.

A hydraulic log splitter makes easy work of splitting a large amount of uniformly cut logs into easily manageable fire wood that is then easy to stack into a large pile where it can dry before being burnt. These devices are easy to use, low maintenance and have a long working life.

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5 Best Hydraulic Cylinder Repair Tips

The hydraulic cylinder is an integral part of every hydraulic system, being a mechanical actuator hydraulic cylinders provide a unidirectional force that eliminates the need for gears and levers.

Hydraulic systems can be found in all types of applications from vehicle auto steering systems, marine applications heavy earth moving equipment, industrial and agricultural machines, construction and industrial used. The most common applications for all these devices are picking, lifting and gripping.

A normal hydraulic system will contain pumps, a drive mechanism, pipes, filters, cylinders valves and pressure switches. Anyone who has a basic understanding of how a hydraulic system works can undertake a hydraulic cylinder repair.

Usually before making a repair it’s wise to find out the cause of the failure, this could be a number of things such as:

Damaged seals

This can happen as a result of incorrect fitting

Corrosion

Having an inappropriate metal work clearance

Misalignment of the cylinder and load

Contaminated fluid

Extreme temperatures

Chemical attacks

It’s important to clean the whole area before you start working to avoid contamination. Disconnect all the pipe work, remove any plugs and drain all the fluid for the cylinder and associated parts of the system.

Then you can begin repairing the damaged hydraulic cylinder. The tools required are a rubber mallet, screwdriver, pliers, punch, emery cloth ‘torque wrench and a proper seal kit. The most common issue after a hydraulic cylinder repair  is that it will leak.

The steps are:

Disassemble the cylinder

Diagnose the reason for the failure

Rep[air or replace any faulty parts

Reassemble or rebuild the cylinder

While working on the repair consider the following tips:

When you disassemble the hydraulic cylinder make a thorough inspection of all associated components to ensure there are no other problems

Ensure you fit the guide ring (sometimes called the wear brush or wear bands) as these help reduce the metal to metal contact

Inspect the rod for bends as a premature seal failure can indicate there is a bend in the rod. When replacing seals don’t measure the existing seal size as they can compress or expand depending on the environmental conditions

Always use the correct fitting tools as metal tools can scratch the cylinder’s surface which can create corrosion problems

When working on large sized hydraulic cylinders be careful as they are often assisted by high tension springs which can present a danger to the inexperienced

It’s important when doing any type of hydraulic maintenance process to check the rods, bearings and seals. If you find the rods are roughened or pitted this can become a likely cause of a breakdown because of a probable increase in friction. The rod will need to be polished to lower the friction.

If you follow these maintenance tips you will find you have less breakdowns in the future.

When making a hydraulic cylinder repair the first thing that should be done is ensure everything is properly cleaned. Then make an assessment of the damage and begin the repair.

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Mobile HoseFixers and Hydraulics Gold Coast is a 24/7 emergency mobile hydraulic maintenance, high pressure hose manufacturing & replacement organisation.

Mobile Hose Fixers & Hydraulics is an Australian based company providing 24 hour 7 day Emergency Mobile High Pressure Hydraulic Hose Repair, Hydraulic Equipment repair and maintenance, Hydraulic Ram and Hydraulic Cylinder Reseals and Repairs Service.