How to Avoid Voiding Hydraulic Repair Warranties

Misunderstandings often arise between hydraulic parts suppliers and equipment owners when premature failure occurs after a part has been installed and commissioned. Hydraulic equipment owners can take several steps to ensure that their warranty claim will be honoured by the supplier after premature part failure. This article discusses some of those helpful measures.

Proper Part Storage

Equipment manufacturers usually describe how replacement parts should be handled or stored prior to installation. For instance, the manufacturer may specify the temperature range of the chosen storage space. Make sure that you adhere to those storage and handling conditions so that the supplier doesn't have a reason to reject your warranty claim in case the parts fail prematurely after their installation.

Supplier Installation

Many of the objections to warranty claims once hydraulic equipment fails centre on whether the parts were installed and commissioned correctly. The best way to avoid such queries/objections is by asking the supplier of the replacement parts to install them in your equipment. The supplier will be responsible for following his or her own installation and commissioning procedures. Any failure which can be traced to the installation will then be attributed to the manufacturer of the equipment. He or she will have no choice but to provide replacement parts at no cost to you the equipment owner.

Take Oil Samples

It may not always be possible for you to get the supplier to install the hydraulic equipment parts, especially when you are dealing with an offshore supplier. In such a case, take oil samples and analyse them before you install the replacement parts. Those results will be used to compare with the oil analysis done once the parts fail prematurely. Any questions about potential hydraulic fluid contamination will be put to rest by the oil samples analysed before and after the failure.

Document the Repairs

It is also helpful to document each step of the repair process. Checklists outlining the different steps followed as a replacement part is installed can help to document how the repair was conducted. These records can be used as evidence to prove that you followed all the recommended procedures as the replacement parts were being installed in your hydraulic equipment. The supplier will then have no reason to reject your warranty application on account of using the wrong installation procedure.

Hydraulic equipment repairs can be very costly to the bottom line of any company if measures aren't taken to keep those costs minimal. Use the suggestions above to prevent situations where a supplier refuses to replace a part which has failed within the warranty period.