Why Clean Hoses?

• Contamination is a leading cause of fluid system failures…some studies show as much as 75%
• Cost of failures include:
  • Destruction of components
  • Repairs needed
  • Loss of productivity
  • Damage to reputation.

• Ingressed
  • Seals, breathers
  • Maintenance Actions
  • Generated by Operation
• Built-in/Implanted
  • Supplied by manufacturer at no extra cost during assembly
  • Included in components
  • New fluid is NOT necessarily clean
  • Homemade reservoirs can be a killer

• Does customer have published specs?
• Fluid (ISO 4406) vs Component (ISO 4405)
• Know your market (Ag, Mobile, Military
  • What are trends?  Warranty? Competition?
• Differentiate yourself from competition
• One more selling tool.

• Extruded tube 1 & 2 wire available
• Sourcing from Highest quality manufacturers
• Wet Cutting
• Standardized cleaning procedures by specific hose type
• In-house test capabilities (gravimetric), ISO (PLC) testing available
• Capping of all completed and cleaned assemblies
• Housekeeping and maintenance

• ISO 4406 3 Code Particle Count
• Typical clearance of Gear pump 1-5 µm;
  • Hydrostatic bearing_-25 µm
• 1 micron (µm) =0.00003374 inch
  • Grain of salt 100 µm
  • Fog droplet 50 µm
  • Grinding particle 10 µm
  • Red blood cell 6 µm

• E=Exclusion (Keep Contamination out)
• R=Removal (Filtration)
• A=Analyze (Sample, Cost vs. Benefit
• S=Sensitivity (Components-hydro 16/11)
• E=Emphasis (Training at all levels)

*Copyright Fluid Technologies, Inc.  405-624-0400.

VAD Hose Assembly Cleanliness Standard

• Value Added Distributors, LLC continues to test Cleanliness levels of hydraulic hose assemblies utilizing the ISO 4405 Gravimetric Test for components. Value Added Distributors, LLC has developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) based on hose types; which allows us to produce “cleaned” hose assemblies on a consistent basis. Our standard assembly would meet VAD Class 3 cleanliness as determined by mass increase divided by surface area of assembly. (Mg/Sq.In.)
• Recently we have added the ability to verify our results with a Laser Particle Counter (PLC) calibrated to ISO 4406 standard which gives us a read out of three recorded particle sizes of 2 µm, 5 µm, and 15 µm respectively.
  • Currently we are only utilizing this resource to verify our “in-house” cleanliness through SOP’s and to identify potential contamination concerns for different hose types.
• Please note that an assembly is only one component. When multiple assemblies, tubes, valves, tanks, and other parts are used on a particular machine the ISO results would be a cumulative total of all components used to transfer fluid in the system.
• Although correlations can be made between ISO 4405 vs. ISO 4406 they are not the same test and therefore do not offer same results. Relationships have been made and charted by one large OEM and can be reviewed under JDS-G169. 
• Any questions regarding this information can be referred to Mark Schultz at (715)-526-3980 ext. 206 or email mschultz@vadtek.com.

• This standard establishes the cleanliness level of hose assemblies and the method of evaluating assembly contamination.  It also establishes a benchmark for all of VAD hose assemblies and a system for tracking the results.

• This specification shall apply to all VAD hose assemblies.                     

• Cleanliness evaluations will be based on rinsing the assemblies with solvent (i.e.: QED), filtering onto a patch and microscopically examining for particle size.
• Contaminant weight will be determined.                        
• Particles to be measured for size are metallic. 
• Soft particles such as fibers, rubber and soft plastics are not to be counted except by weight. 
  • If particles are fragile and break up when gently probed, only the remaining solid pieces are to be measured for conformance to this specification.
  • Zinc plating flakes are to be considered soft and should not be measured.

CLASS 1

• All VAD hose assemblies are required to meet this specification:
  • Maximum Wt./Surface Area :          35 mg/sq.m
  • Maximum Particle Size:       .039 inch or 1000 micron

CLASS 2

• This cleanliness level requires special care during assembly and blow out
  • Maximum Wt./Surface Area:           25 mg/sq.m
  • Maximum Particle Size:       .030 inch or 750 micron

CLASS 2

• This cleanliness level requires special care during assembly and blow out
  • Maximum Wt./Surface Area :          15 mg/sq.m
  • Maximum Particle Size:       .003 inch or 100 micron

Customers requesting any other specifications will be handled on an individual basis. And the results will be kept in their customer file.

• To ensure that Value Added continues to meet the cleanliness levels stated, we will test hose samples at in-house testing facility in Shawano, WI.
• This will be done a minimum of once each calendar quarter or as required due to introduction of new hose types or procedure changes.
• The results will be tracked and a copy put with our Master Cleanliness Standard file.
• MCS file will be available to our customers upon request.