the pump has failed on my ex220-2 and the first sign was the dipper ram stopped working through the spool valve. we opened it up and fond a match head sized piece of hardened metal which we removed then closed it up again. the ram worked for a short while then it happened again so after looking at the system the pump is the problem. I will be putting a rebuilt pump on, but want to know the best solution to removing any metal contamination from the hoses and tank. my thoughts are to have a heap of new filters available to change as we run the machine. also to put heavy magnets in the tank? any help would be appreciated.
The best way it to take it all apart and flush everything, clean every cylinder etc. etc. If you're going to do it your way, the only thing I have to add is to start it for the first time on a hot day, so the fluid is easy to filter and won't bypass. Use one function for a while to circulate and filter the oil (instead of using all the functions and spreading the junk all throughout the system), then switch to a different function and flush that for a while. And use neodynium/rare earth magnets, scrap computer hard drive magnets, they're strong enough to stick to the outside of a canister filter, and they're small enough to stick to the outside of a metal filter element. All that speculation is probably worthless, either there's metal all over already or there isn't.
Thanks for your advice. I just hope it has not spread through the system.
If it went to the pump then its everywhere. If you don't do a full clean up you'll end up doing it again and you'll always be plagued with problems.
If you already have metal in the arm cylinder, I hate to tell you, it has already spread through the system. While there is a suction filter in the tank, if the pump is the coming apart and you don`t get it all cleaned out the tank filters are RETURN filters so it will go through every valve, hose, cylinder there is and destroy all of them then go through the filter. If you plan on this machine running for any lenght of time in the near future, every hose, valve, cylinder, motor needs removed and cleaned out along with the tank.