Salaam, above all do not panic,

When you refer to the damage, what is the damage specifically?- (metal in the filter cartrige? or damaged filter housing?

Many times the reservoir tanks are not cleaned after they are assembled and this creates problems from dirt, weld spatter, and garbage left i the tank/reservoir.

Any hydraulic system will have metal particles from the pump or valve in the filter due to operating hours and duty cycles and or a broken or chipped gear tooth from the pump or pumps, this is normal.

Does you system have a magnet in the tank to collect metal shavings and small particles?

Usually the magnets are put in the worst possible places to access them and they are forgotten and the magnets build up material and the excess is removed by the action of the oil moving throught the system and passing by the magnet.

If it is a hydraulic power pack-(Pump and tank in one unit)look for a pipe plug on the return side of the hydraulic tank in the worst possible place and this is probably where the magnet is, you may end up removing a component or draining the oil to remove and clean the magnet and oil strainer if it is equiped with one. typically they have an access cover in the side of the reservoir tank.

Be careful as you remove the magnet as the fine metal particles will fall off easily if it is allowed to touch the side of the pipe thread where it is mounted.

If the strainer is damaged it will have to be replaced as well. The rule is the finer the filter the more dirt it will pick up, so if you have a ten micron filter it will pick up a huge amount of dirt and it is doing its job so you should continue to use the same type of filter and a strainer if it has one.

If you have any type of metal in the filter- if its made of paper you need to change it more often as it will create air bubbles in the oil and affect the performance of the drive unit from cavitation due to air bubbles and destroy the pump.

Annane, not to worry too much- If it is a cartrige filter- (a metal encased filter that screws on to a mounting thread base like an automobile oil filter) it can be cross referenced to find an identical filter at an auto parts store or at a large construction equipment dealer to find a filter that will match it exactly.

If the filter is a (drop in paper cartrige) the same rules apply as the filter will have the identification numbers on the end of the cartridge.

let me know if I can help more.

lzaharis ■