Here is a link to an article in Plant Engineering on 2/08 that gives a How to Method for Trouble Shooting a Fluid Power System that is not performing as planned. Is this the approach you take to a Hydraulically or Pneumatically powered machine that is not operating normally?

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-33979...@wowway.net&library=

Will this approach help the Mechanical Engineer or Maintenance Mechanic that had a 3 Day Fluid Power course three years back and has worked on everything but hydraulic and pneumatic systems since the class???

If they can find an up to date schematic, do these UNTARINED persons have the skills to read it. Do they really understand the function of the valve the Symbol they forgot and all the possible ways it can be applied?

But, guess what, if it was an Electrical problem there would be no problem for the TRAINED/DEDICATED Electrical person to quickly isolate the failed or out of adjustment compnent and have the machine up and running quickly. On top of that, about the second or third time the same thing happened that TRAINED/DEDICATED individual would be making changes to a different manufacturers part or they would redesign the circuit to elimintae the problem caused by the faulty original design.

I still believe there is a need for TRAINED/DEDICATED Fluid Power Engineers and Maintenance persons so articles like the one above are not the norm for dealing with Fluid Power Trouble Shooting situations.