A hydraulic hand pump is a simple, yet essential piece of equipment used in a variety of industries. They are vital for many force applications – especially in construction, manufacturing, and maintenance operations.
However, with so many different models on the market, it can be difficult to know which is best suited to your type of work. This guide will help you understand the different pump types and their features.
Before you go ahead and buy a hydraulic hand pump, it’s important to do your research and understand their differences. With so many to choose from, you will want to compare features and prices. It is also a good idea to assess the quality of the product and if it’s made by a reputable manufacturer.
A hydraulic hand pump does a simple job, which is to deliver pressurized hydraulic flow to a tool and then return it back to the pump reservoir. But that doesn’t mean you should take shortcuts and opt for the first one that appears in your internet search results. There are a few simple but important considerations to take on board that will steer you towards the right product.
When you are choosing a hydraulic hand pump, it is important to prioritize quality over price. A high-quality Enerpac pump will last longer and be more reliable than a cheaper model. You will save money in the long run as you won’t need to replace it for many years.
With each stroke of the handle on a single-speed hydraulic pump, hydraulic oil is drawn from the pump reservoir towards the tool by the same amount. For many applications, this simpler and lower-cost option is fine. But for projects needing greater flow, for example when oil is to be pumped to a large hydraulic cylinder (or multiple cylinders), a single-speed pump can be hard work.
The alternative is a 2 stage hydraulic pump (2 speed), which has the added advantage of delivering high flow at lower working pressures. This gets you faster to the point where the real work begins. It then automatically delivers low flow at high pressure just at the time when you need more control. Compared to a single-speed pump, some two-speed types can reduce the number of handle strokes by as much as 78%! For a more in-depth comparison read our other blog post.
Hydraulic hand pumps are available in a wide range of oil capacities. A small model typically has a usable capacity of around 20 in3 (327 cm3), but there are some with as much as 453 in3 (7423 cm3). A larger reservoir will give you more options but will obviously make the pump much heavier, so think about how much oil is really needed for the applications you intend to carry out.
Most Enerpac Hydraulic Hand Pumps can withstand pressures up to 10,000 psi (700 bar), but this isn’t always necessary. For lower working pressures up to 5,000 psi (350 bar) the P18 is a cost-effective single-speed option. However, if you need a 2 stage hydraulic pump go for the P1425000.
When it comes to the materials used for the main body of the pump, you have the choice of steel or glass-filled nylon. There’s plenty of configurations available in both types, so it really comes down to your personal preferences, weight, and the working environment. Metal-bodied pumps are the traditional tried and tested option that offer reassurance to many people. However, glass-filled nylon reservoirs are also incredibly durable, and these offer an unrivalled combination of strength, weight, and resistance to corrosion. A glass-filled nylon pump will be a few pounds lighter than steel equivalents.
If you intend to use your pump with hydraulic cylinders, will these be single or double acting?
A double-acting cylinder gives you a faster and more controlled plunger retraction, but you will need a pump designed specifically for this purpose. Take a look at the P842, P84, and P464 models.
Safety should always be the number one concern, so choosing a good quality pump from a reputable manufacturer is an essential first step. Some features and tips relating to safety include;
• Non-conductive fiberglass handle
• Internal pressure relief valves for overload protection
• Lower handle effort of 2-stage pumps
• Handle lock and lightweight construction for easy carrying
• Corrosion-resistant finishes
• Using a pressure gauge as a ‘window’ to what’s going on within the system
• Always follow manufacturer operator instructions
• Consider extra safety tools such as the Hydraulic Coupler Bleed Tool for safe depressurization
• Make sure you keep threads on couplers clean and in good condition.
When working in extreme environments such as the oil & gas, or petrochemical industries, a hydraulic pump may be exposed to corrosive substances and extreme temperatures. For these situations consider pumps with corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel, nickel-plated valves and cylinders, anodization, and plastic-encapsulated metals. Viton® Seals will also offer heat and chemical resistance.
Foot Pumps
Would a foot pump suit you better? If crouching to activate your hand pump is an issue, or if you want to keep your hands free then a foot pump could be a good alternative option. Look at the P392FP which is a 2 stage foot pump with a robust steel frame.
Hydraulic Foot Pumps
Powered Pumps
For ad-hoc projects, a hand pump is likely to be the right choice. But for frequent and repetitive projects – and especially those with multiple cylinders a powered pump could be much better for you. Plug in electric and compressed air hydraulic pumps are common. For remote locations without mains power or a compressed airline the choices are battery and gasoline-driven pumps.
Battery Driven Hydraulic Pumps
If your work involves using hydraulic cylinders buying a cylinder and pump set is a quick and easy way to get what you need, without the hassle of buying components separately. A set typically includes a single-acting hydraulic cylinder (aka a jack or ram), a two-speed pump, a 6-foot hose, calibrated gauge, and a gauge adaptor. Cylinder capacities vary from 5 to 100 tons and the pump options include hand or foot-operated models.
Cylinder and Pump sets
Once you have chosen the right hydraulic hand pump, you’ll need to find a reputable supplier.
You can locate your nearest Enerpac distributor on our website. Or if you are based in the United States you can order your pump online directly from Enerpac.
Most people reading this article will be technical-minded engineers with a clear idea of the intended applications. With these projects in mind and an understanding of the key points we’ve covered above, hopefully, you will be in a good position to select the best hydraulic hand pump for your future projects. Here is a summary of the key considerations:
• Choose a quality product
• Single vs 2 stage pumps
• Oil capacity
• Low vs high pressure
• Materials: Metal vs Reinforced Nylon
• Single or double-acting cylinder compatibility
• Extreme environment pumps
• Consider alternatives
As your hydraulic pump gets older, it will experience frequent malfunctions or breakdowns. In most cases, you have already had it repaired several times, and by now, you may be considering replacing it with a new one. However, you can try an alternative option called hydraulic pump rebuilding.
Hydraulic pump rebuilding involves dismantling the hydraulic pump, checking every individual component for signs of wear and tear, and checking the remaining life expectancy of every element.
If a component has been worn out, it can be cleaned and refurbished. After all the parts get checked and refurbished, the hydraulic pump gets put back together and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its performance is renewed to its optimum capacity.
With that in mind, here are four benefits of conducting hydraulic pump rebuilding services on your old pump instead of buying a new one.
Saving Money
Though hydraulic pump rebuilds are relatively expensive compared to repairs, they can save you money in the long run. If you think about it, repairs focus on a single malfunctioning component of the hydraulic pump. Thus, even if the element gets replaced, chances are you will encounter a different issue with the pump after some time.
Hence, you get stuck in a cycle of frequently repairing different parts of the old hydraulic pump. Thus, in the long run, you will end up spending a lot of money on repairs while you could have just opted for a hydraulic pump rebuild.
Additionally, because a hydraulic pump rebuild focuses on each component individually, it usually performs like a new one when the pump gets reassembled. Thus you don't need to buy a new hydraulic pump. Besides, rebuilding costs less than the price of a new hydraulic pump.
Therefore, you get to save money by opting for a rebuild as opposed to replacing the old pump.
No Depreciation
When you buy a new hydraulic pump, it starts to depreciate as soon as you finalize the purchase. Thus, replacing an old hydraulic pump with a new one forces you to include the depreciation of the new hydraulic pump in your company books.
Suppose you replace several hydraulic pumps all at once. In that case, the total amount of depreciation you have to include in your books will significantly devalue your company for several years.
However, if you opt for hydraulic pump rebuilds, you will reinstate the functionality of your old pumps so that they function as well as new ones. However, because the hydraulic pumps are already old, the amount of depreciation on your books is minimal because depreciation reaches a plateau at a certain point in time. Thus, the old hydraulic pumps don't depreciate any further, and therefore, you get to enjoy a stable company valuation.
Increased Life Span
At some point in time, you will have to replace the old hydraulic pumps with new ones. However, that day doesn't have to arrive before you have thoroughly exhausted the lifespan of your old pumps. Thus, if it is possible to extend the life of an old hydraulic pump, you don't have to make the financial commitment of buying new hydraulic pumps any time soon.
Fortunately, hydraulic pump rebuilding extends the life of an old hydraulic pump significantly. Thus, if you think your current hydraulic pumps have reached the end of the road, don't rush to replace them with new ones.
Instead, look for a hydraulic pump technician to conduct a rebuild on them. You may be surprised that after the rebuild, the same hydraulic pumps you thought of replacing end up lasting for several more years.
Eliminating Downtime
If you are using an old hydraulic pump, chances are you experience frequent downtime due to the numerous breakdowns, malfunctions, and repairs. You may want to buy a new hydraulic pump to eliminate downtime, but a hydraulic pump rebuild is the best option.
In most cases, a rebuilt hydraulic pump may even provide better performance than a brand new pump. When the pump gets rebuilt, every component receives a new life. Furthermore, the pump receives rigorous testing and optimization to provide peak performance.
Thus, when your hydraulic pump gets rebuilt, it is given a new life, and it performs as well or even better than a new pump. Thus, hydraulic pump rebuilding provides a better solution for eliminating downtime compared to buying a new pump.
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