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TYPE OF FAILURE |
VISIBLE CONDITION |
PROBABLE CAUSE |
POSSIBLE CURE |
Hardening |
Hardening of the dynamic face has caused glazing and cracks. ![]() |
Heat generated by high speed. |
Slow stoke speed or use an alternative seal device. |
Hardening of the whole seal. Loss of elasticity. ![]() |
High fluid temperature. Deterioration of fluid. Compatibility of the seal to the fluid. |
Lower the oil temperature. Renew fluid. Change to a different seal compound. |
|
Wear |
Dynamic face is worn to a glossy mirror-like finish. ![]() |
Insufficient lubrication. |
Check oil viscosity or use an alternative seal device. |
|
Rod or piston bore is not concentric |
Hone to within seal specifications or replace the worn rod or cylinder tube. |
|
Signs of abnormal wear on one side of the dynamic lip. ![]() |
Worn bearing or wear ring. Excessive lateral load. |
Replace bearings. Increase bearing area. |
|
Scarring |
Cut or dent on the lip. ![]() |
Storage on a nail or peg. Improper installation tool. |
Store flat in a plastic bag in a closed cardboard box. Installation tools should not have sharp edges. |
Scratched on the dynamic side. ![]() |
Scars on the rod or bore or foreign material in fluid. |
Hone, polish and deburr metal parts or flush the system. |
|
Swelling |
Material is soft and misshaped. ![]() |
Absorption of fluid. Fluid and seal are incompatible. Water in the system. |
Change the seal compound or system fluid. Or flush the system. |
Deterioration |
Cracks and loss of elasticity. Material easily crumbles. ![]() |
High fluid temperature. Exposure to ozone or sunlight. |
Lower oil temperature. Store seals away from sunlight and arc welding area. |
Grooving |
Axial cuts on the dynamic side. ![]() |
Metal chips or other foreign material in system. Imploding air bubbles. |
Flush System. Bleed air from the system. |
Extrusion |
Extruded material on the dynamic side of heel. ![]() |
Gap between mating surfaces is too wide. Worn bearings. Pressure extreme. |
Employ a back ring. Replace the bearings. Use an alternative seal. |
Extruded material on the static side of the seal. ![]() |
Uneven support surface. Undersized back-up ring. |
Machine surface. Correct back up size. |
|
Fracturing |
Chunks of material torn from the dynamic side. ![]() |
Excessive back pressure. |
Check relief valves. |
Pressure side of seal burned and broken. ![]() |
Explosion of residual air at high pressure. ‘Dieseling’ |
Check maximum pressure Bleed air from system. |
|
Long cracks in the “V” portion of the seal. ![]() |
Frequent high pressure shocks or spikes. Low temperature start-up. |
Use alternative style seal. Warm system before applying pressure. |
|
Entire dynamic side breaking off. ![]() |
Deterioration of material and/or fluid. |
Use alternative material or seal. Flush system. |
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