Unfortunately, hydraulic presses aren't foolproof. Over time and with heavy use, presses can become damaged or worn in crucial areas. They need regular maintenance and care if you expect top performance and years of functionality.
There are several common issues with hydraulic presses, potentially resulting in a broken machine or bodily injury. These include:
1)Oil leaks: This is the most commonly reported problem. Oil can leak from hose fittings, hydraulic lines and even around the ram. Leaking is typically the result of equipment damage, loose fittings, fluid contamination and using the incorrect oil type. Continued leaking puts the machine at high risk for catastrophic failure and chemical hazard, endangering workers.
2)Overheating: A wide array of machine inefficiencies can cause a press to overheat. Hydraulic fluid needs to remain under 180 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature. Any hotter than that, the oil can degrade quickly and cause seal damage, leading to leaks.
Loss of pressure: This may sound like more of an inconvenience than anything, but improperly working equipment always has the potential for danger. Slow pressure build can be the result of a pump, relief valve or motor issue. Pressure issues can cause the ram to drop unexpectedly and without being activated.

3)Neglect: A machine is only as good as its weakest part. Without proper care and regular inspection, machines can fail for any number of reasons. Any issue left unrepaired or part left unreplaced can worsen with further use, creating risk for full press failure.

If not correctly cared for, presses can experience any of these failures and more. Daily inspection and regular maintenance can prevent them. Simple repair and safety measures cost far less than the potential damage that comes with leaving issues to worsen.
In many cases, full machine failure can cause your press to become permanently inoperable. More seriously, it can severely injure workers. Accidents caused by faulty machinery — especially a hydraulic press — can result in minor to fatal injury.