Understanding the Problem

 Our understanding of the problem often begins with another person attempting to describe what has happened with the system.  At first glance, those descriptions may not make sense or seem to provide much information.  Our task, though, is take ownership of the problem and to use their descriptions to define one or two problem areas.

Troubleshooting involves seeking probable causes for failures and the process of elimination.  We can narrow symptoms such as the pump delivering inadequate flow or the motor running at a lower-than-normal speed by considering the history of the machine and by asking the key questions below.  

1. Did the problem occur suddenly or gradually?
2. Did the problem change with a change in oil temperature?
3. Did the problem occur during a specific application or after a repair?
4. Has the problem occurred before?

Understand and Take Ownership of the Problem

At first glance, these descriptions may not make sense or seem to provide much information.  It is our task to take ownership of the problem and to use the information given to define one or two problem areas.

Troubleshooting involves seeking probable causes for failures and the process of elimination.  We can narrow symptoms such as the pump delivering inadequate flow or the motor running at a lower-than-normal speed by considering the history of the machine and by asking the key questions below. 

• Did the problem occur suddenly or gradually?
• Did the problem change with a change in oil temperature?
• Did the problem occur during a specific application or after a repair?
• Has the problem occurred before?

Hypothesize & Resolve

From there, we can come up with a hypothesis about the problem. For example, we may conclude that a motor stalls as a result of insufficient pressure. Now, as we shift from considering the symptoms to solving the problem, we can broaden our knowledge of the machine and its operation through a variety of resources. These resources include nameplates, service manuals, equipment files, and operational and circuit diagrams. Resources can lead to information about circuit and component relationships as well as points for attaching test equipment. This test equipment includes pressure gauges, meters, and hydraulic testers.

Test & Retest

Once you believe that you have found and solved the problem, the next stage involves testing and retesting the operation of the machine under actual operating conditions and another set of simple questions.  Did the original symptoms disappear?  Does the system operate normally for a given length of time?  Do other problems or symptoms appear?

Conclusion

Still not sure what the root cause is? Motion Repair & Services is here for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to a rep. With our expertise and technical training, we can help you find the problem and give you solutions to solve it.

Contact Motion Repair & Services today.