Manifolds, valves and gauges are what turn a pump and a cylinder into a controllable system.
A manifold splits one pump output across several cylinders, which is how a load is lifted at multiple points at once. A stop or needle valve holds pressure in one leg while another is adjusted. A gauge tells you what is actually happening, and on a proof test or a controlled lift that is not optional — without one you are working blind.
Every component in the circuit must be rated to the highest pressure the system can generate. A 700 bar pump feeding a 350 bar valve is an accident with a delay on it.
Manufacturer specification. Certification available 2.1
Key Features
- Certification available 2.1: As specified by the manufacturer
- Supplied ready to use: As specified by the manufacturer
- Supplied ready to use: As specified by the manufacturer
- Supplied ready to use: As specified by the manufacturer
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Product Code |
TBC384WM/F |
| Details |
See manufacturer information sheet |
Full specification and capacities are given in the manufacturer information sheet.
Manufacturer Specification | LOLER Ready
Certification available 2.1 Under LOLER 1998, lifting equipment and accessories require thorough examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Work equipment that does not lift falls under PUWER 1998 and must be inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Suitable Applications
Multi-point lifting and jacking where several cylinders work together: structural jacking, machinery installation and levelling, bridge bearing replacement and press work. Also for controlled single-cylinder work where holding, isolating or monitoring pressure matters.
More About This Product
Manifolds, valves and gauges are the components that turn a pump and a cylinder into something controllable. Without them you have force; with them you have a lift that can be held, isolated, adjusted and measured.
They are also the components most often mismatched. A pump and a cylinder get bought together and rated correctly; the valve block comes out of a drawer, and nobody checks what it is rated to.
Multi-Point Lifting and Why the Gauge Is Not Optional
Lifting at several points at once is what manifolds exist for. Lifting a long or heavy item at a single point twists it, and on machinery or structures that twist is often more damaging than the lift itself. A manifold splits one pump output across several cylinders so the load rises evenly.
That introduces its own discipline. Cylinders on a shared circuit see the same pressure but not necessarily the same load, and a cylinder taking less than its share is doing nothing while its neighbours take more. Individual isolation valves let each leg be adjusted, which is why they are worth having.
The gauge is the part people leave off and should not. On a proof test the pressure reading is the measurement — without it you cannot state what load was applied. On a controlled lift it is the only indication that the system is behaving: a pressure that climbs when nothing is moving means something is binding, and a pressure that falls when nothing is being released means a leak.
Injected hydraulic fluid is a surgical emergency. At 700 bar a pinhole leak produces a jet that penetrates skin without the operator necessarily feeling it as more than a sting, and the fluid then causes tissue damage that develops over hours. The entry wound looks trivial and the injury is not. Anyone who suspects fluid injection needs a hospital immediately and needs to say what fluid it was. This is why leaks are located with a piece of cardboard and never with a hand.
How to Use
- Check every component is rated to the system pressure: The circuit is limited by its lowest rated part, and that is where it will fail.
- Fit a gauge: On a proof test or a controlled lift, working without one is working blind.
- Bleed the system before working: Air gives a spongy action and unpredictable movement.
- Isolate before adjusting: Use stop valves rather than cracking a coupler under pressure.
- Depressurise before disconnecting: Always. Stored pressure releases suddenly.
- Check couplers are fully engaged: A partially engaged coupler can blow off under pressure.
Warning: Every component in a hydraulic circuit must be rated to the highest pressure the system can generate. Depressurise before disconnecting anything — stored pressure releases suddenly and hydraulic fluid injected under the skin is a surgical emergency.
Safety Information
- For use by trained operators only.
- Never exceed the rated working pressure.
- All hoses, couplers, gauges and cylinders must be rated to the system pressure.
- Never search for a hydraulic leak by hand — injected fluid is a surgical emergency.
- Never work under a load supported only by a cylinder.
- Use only the specified hydraulic oil.
- Bleed air from the system before working.
- Depressurise before disconnecting any component.
- Withdraw any component showing leakage, damage or corrosion.
Inspection and Maintenance
Hydraulic equipment announces its condition through leaks and through feel. Check for weeping around every joint, seal and connection, since a system that leaks under pressure will lose load. Inspect hoses along their full length for abrasion, bulging, kinking and any exposed reinforcement — a high pressure hose showing braid is finished. Check couplers for damage and full engagement. Test the action through its full travel and feel for sponginess, which indicates air or a failing seal. Keep oil at the correct level with the specified grade and the reservoir sealed, since dirt is what destroys hydraulic components.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do I need a manifold?
To drive several cylinders from one pump, which is how a load is lifted at multiple points simultaneously. Lifting a long or heavy item at one point only twists it.
Q: Do I really need a gauge?
On a proof test or any controlled lift, yes. Without one you cannot know what pressure the system is at, which means you cannot know the load.
Q: What happens if one component is lower rated?
That is where the system fails. Check the rating of the pump, hoses, couplers, valves, gauge and cylinder, and work to the lowest.
