Is your pipe bending machine's cooling system malfunctioning? Don't wait until the oil overheats to fix it!

If your pipe bending machine runs continuously for several hours and the oil temperature spikes to 60-70 degrees Celsius, the operation slows down, the angle becomes inconsistent, or it even alarms and shuts down—it's most likely a problem with the cooling system. Here are a few tips to help you quickly find the root cause.

First, determine whether your system is air-cooled or water-cooled.

Air-cooled: Relies on a fan to cool the radiator and lower the oil temperature. Commonly found in small to medium-sized tubing bending machines.

Water-cooled: Relies on circulating water to remove heat. More commonly used in high-power models.

II. Common Faults of Air-Cooled Coolers

1. Radiator Surface Clogged: Oil sludge, lint, and dust from the workshop clog the fins, preventing airflow. Oil temperature rises rapidly.

Solution: Blow compressed air outwards from the back (fan side), or wash with a high-pressure water gun (be careful to protect the motor). Clean monthly, or weekly for heavy-duty work.

2. Fan Not Turning or Running Slowly: The fan motor is burnt out, the capacitor is faulty, or the blades are stuck.

Solution: Check if the fan motor has power. Manually rotate the blades to see if they run smoothly. Replace bulging capacitors; repair burnt-out motors.

3. Temperature Control Switch Malfunction: Some models only activate the fan when the oil temperature reaches the set value. If the temperature control is faulty, the fan will not turn.

Solution: Short-circuit the temperature control switch to test. If the fan turns, the temperature control is faulty and needs replacement.

III. Common Faults of Water-Cooled Coolers

1. Scale Clog: Using tap water for extended periods leads to scale buildup inside the cooler, reducing water flow and decreasing heat dissipation.

Solution: Remove the cooler and flush it with a descaling agent (citric acid or a specialized cleaning agent) in a circulating manner. If possible, use soft water or add antifreeze.

2. Insufficient Water or Faulty Water Pump: The cooling tower is low on water, the water pump is not running, or the inlet filter is clogged.

Solution: Check the water level in the tank, observe if the water pump is operating normally, and clean the inlet filter.

3. Oil-Water Conflict (The most troublesome type): An internal oil pipe in the cooler is ruptured, causing oil to leak into the water, and vice versa. The oil turns milky white, like milk.

Solution: Stop the machine, remove the cooler, and send it for pressure testing. If a leak is confirmed, replace it with a new one, and replace all hydraulic oil as well.

IV. Another issue not related to the cooler

High oil temperature is sometimes not due to a cooling system malfunction, but rather to inadequate hydraulic oil. Over time, the oil oxidizes and thickens, reducing its fluidity and hindering heat dissipation. Replacing the oil with new oil immediately lowers the temperature. Therefore, first confirm that the oil has not exceeded its service life.

V. Daily habits for preventing high temperatures

Before starting the machine each day, glance at the cooler fins (for air-cooled systems) to ensure they are clean.

For water-cooled systems, check the water level monthly and add water and antifreeze.

Be alert if the oil temperature gauge exceeds 50℃; if it exceeds 55℃, stop the machine and investigate.

If the oil turns white or black, replace it immediately; don't wait.

If the cooling system malfunctions, the oil temperature will inevitably rise, compromising the accuracy of pipe bending. Properly cleaning the air-cooled system, descaling the water-cooled system, and checking the power supply to the fan and water pump are three things that can allow your pipe bending machine to operate for an extra two hours without stopping.