General guidance
This Resource Centre provides general guidance only. Always follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions, the product technical data sheet and your site’s safe system of work. Isolate stored energy before maintenance. For safety-critical, regulated or uncertain applications, ask a competent engineer or the product manufacturer to confirm the specification.
Work from the supply towards the actuator.
- Confirm the symptom. Is the fault on one direction, both directions, every cycle or only under load?
- Check dynamic pressure. Observe pressure while the cylinder moves, not only when idle.
- Inspect air preparation. Look for a blocked filter, incorrect regulator setting, full drain or restricted shut-off valve.
- Check valves and silencers. A contaminated valve or blocked exhaust silencer can restrict flow.
- Review pipe and fitting size. Long, narrow or kinked lines cause pressure drop.
- Check flow-control settings and orientation. A control fitted in the wrong direction may restrict the wrong path.
- Look for leakage. Inspect fittings, tubing, valve exhausts and cylinder seals using a safe detection method.
- Check mechanics. Disconnect only under safe conditions and investigate binding, side load, misalignment or an increased machine load.
Do not increase pressure beyond the rating to hide a mechanical or flow problem.
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Send the manufacturer, reference, photographs and operating details.