Buffalo Cranks Up The Volume – More Space, Less Waiting

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Super

Buffalo Industries has recently expanded to a 21,000 sq. ft. facility, sitting on 2.5 acres at our Winnipeg location. That means more room to schedule a greater volume of service appointments, as well as handling bigger jobs on site.

At Buffalo, we understand the need to keep fleet vehicles on the road, and generating revenue for you. So we maintain a huge inventory of parts and accessories, for over 80 different manufacturers, to insure that you experience minimal down time while our fully trained technicians service your equipment. Our parts inventory includes driveline, PTO, hydraulic and pneumatic components; parts for railroad, mining, construction and agriculture, even hard to find parts.

Our facility has 7 service bays, to help get your vehicle in for service ASAP, and is large enough to service dump trucks, refuse trucks, cranes, or tow trucks. The facility is a fully fenced compound, to secure your property from theft, so your toolboxes and gear are safe and secure.

On site, we have a fully equipped machine shop and welding shop, so we are able to perform tube bending, milling, lathe turning and lapping right on the premises. Plus we have a 15T iron worker on site in addition to our seasoned staff of qualified journeyman level technicians.

Buffalo Industries serves fleets, individual truck and trailer owners, heavy equipment, and out of town vehicles. So whether you’re a local fleet owner or just passing through, give us a call at our facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba and schedule service with us today.

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Buffalo Industries in Winnipeg: The Place To Go For Truck Fleet Service

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Super

At Buffalo Industries, we recognize that as a fleet truck owner you can’t afford the luxury of down time. When your trucks need servicing, you need to get the work done quickly, and get it all done right the first time. That’s why we train our technicians are all fully trained, and why we keep an inventory of parts for over eighty manufacturers in-house. So we can deliver all of your fleet needs under one roof, and in a timely manner.

For over 100 years, Buffalo Industries LTD. has been serving the trucking needs of Manitobans, from simple oil changes to complex design and installation of hydraulics systems, and everything in between. If your truck fleet needs a one stop, professional service centre to keep your trucks on the road, and your business moving along, Buffalo is the place to go.

Our 21,000 sq. ft. facility, sitting on 2.5 acres is fully equipped and stocked to provide any service that your trucks need, including: brakes, transmissions, driveline, clutch, and hydraulics. Our technicians are also fully trained in crane service and inspection, and will perform truck and trailer servicing.

Buffalo has a fully equipped welding and machine shop on premises, along with enough space to do even the biggest jobs on trucks, trailers, and heavy equipment alike, all at affordable rates. Contact us today at our Winnipeg facility, and get your personalized quote today. Let us help you keep your fleet moving down the road.

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Common Causes of a Pump Failure

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Super

As with anything else, hydraulic systems are subject to occasional failures under certain circumstances or conditions. In the case of the hydraulic pump, which generates flow and causes pressure to the fluid within the system, there are essentially three conditions that account for most failures: Heat, Contamination, and Cavitation.

Heat

In any system of moving parts, there will be a certain amount of friction generated. That friction creates heat, which can cause mechanical breakdowns if not adequately regulated. When temperatures within a hydraulic system exceed their limits, it can result in damage to seals, valves, O-rings, etc. To maintain the temperature within operating limits, it is important to ensure that the system is equipped with the right size oil reservoir and an oil cooler, if necessary, and is also operating within the manufacturer’s specified speed and pressure ranges.

Contamination

If you think of the fluid in a hydraulic system like the motor oil in your car or truck, you’ll understand the importance of proper filtration in a hydraulic system. Because the fluid is under pressure and is exerting force upon machine components, there is the risk of damage or premature wear of these components if it becomes contaminated. Additionally, contaminated hydraulic fluid can clog valves or reliefs within the system, causing mechanical failures.

Cavitation

Cavitation, as the name implies, is the creation of a cavity, or void, within a hydraulic system, caused by insufficient flow of the hydraulic fluid to the inlet port. This can be due to a number of different causes, such as bends in hydraulic lines, or an insufficient-sized inlet line. A typical indication of cavitation within a hydraulic system is the presence of foaming in the hydraulic oil. Cavitation can be addressed by replacing the inlet line with one of a larger diameter; or by removing bends, elbows or filters in the line as necessary.

At Buffalo Industries, we have the expertise and resources to repair pump failures or any other repairs needed needed for your trucks or heavy equipment.  Contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

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Required Manitoba Safety Inspections

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Super

Manitoba Public Insurance

Drivers of certain categories of vehicles are required in Manitoba to be safety inspected every 6 or 12 months, depending upon the class of vehicle, or when transferring ownership of a vehicle. That’s right, to keep Manitoba roads safe and to identify potentially hazardous conditions in vehicles before they take to the road, Manitoba has instituted a vehicle safety inspection program. If your vehicle falls into one of the categories listed below, you must get an annual Certificate of Inspection, or COI :

  • Trucks over 4,500 kg GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating).
  • Truck tractors under 21,953 kg GVWR.
  • Truck tractors registered for farm use, over 21,953 kg GVWR.
  • Trailers with a GVWR of 4,500kg or more (except RV or farm trailers).
  • Buses operated by non-profit organizations or churches.
  • Semi trailers or trailer converted dollies.

For vehicles in the below category, inspections are required every 6 months:

  • Truck Tractors with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 21,953 kg or more (unless registered as a farm truck).

For the purpose of making sure that all vehicles operated on public roads meet established safety standards, the Manitoba Government requires that each vehicle be taken to a licensed inspection station each year for a safety inspection. You can bring your vehicle to Buffalo Industries, and our staff of trained technicians will inspect your brakes, steering, suspension, lights, tires and exhaust. At Buffalo Industries, we take safety seriously, so you can be assured of a complete and thorough inspection. If you require service and maintenance for your fleet, we’ll arrange for regularly scheduled appointments. Contact our service department today to schedule your safety inspection and get back on the road with confidence.

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Crane Inspection and Servicing in Winnipeg

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Super

At Buffalo Industries, our fully trained technicians are equipped to perform professional crane inspections and servicing, right here on site at our Winnipeg facility. We can schedule you for routine maintenance at a time convenient to you, and with a timely turnaround. Our 21,000 sq. ft. facility also affords us the room and capacity to handle emergency work on short notice.

Our parts department maintains an inventory of parts for over eighty different manufacturers, so we’re prepared to take on any size job you require, all under one roof, and with minimal down time for your equipment.

In addition to scheduled maintenance, Buffalo technicians will also provide you with preventive maintenance solutions, to help you keep your equipment operational between scheduled service visits. Your crane will be given a thorough safety and operational inspection. Upon completion of the inspection, we will consult with you on any service or repairs that may be required, and schedule them for you at your convenience, and at affordable rates. Once your crane passes inspection, you will receive an inspection certificate with an engineer’s stamp, assuring you that your equipment is fault-free, fully operational and 100% safe.

If you need your current equipment tested to verify whether it is operating at its full capacity, or to check for any potential problem areas, we have the facilities and the experience to run it through its paces on site. If any components need replacing, chances are, we’ll have them in house.

So contact our service department today to schedule your crane for service, inspection, or troubleshooting at Buffalo Industries LTD in Winnipeg.

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What is the Stroke of a Hydraulic Cylinder?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Super

The basic function of a hydraulic cylinder is to lift or push a load using the hydraulic pressure in the system to provide the force. Every cylinder is measured by specific dimensions known as bore and stroke which are important to know when performing hydraulics repairs, or when doing custom hydraulics installations. We’ve discussed the bore of a cylinder in a previous article. Today we’ll look at a cylinder’s stroke.

When we discuss the stroke of a hydraulic cylinder, what exactly are we talking about? Well, very plainly, the stroke of a cylinder refers to the overall distance the cylinder will travel to perform the job of lifting or moving an object. From its fully closed to its fully open position, the total length of travel of the cylinder is its stroke. So if a cylinder will travel 24” from its fully closed position to fully open, we say that the cylinder has a stroke of 24 inches. It is a common misconception that this refers to the overall length of the cylinder, but in actuality it is the measure of how far the piston will extend from its external tube. This is an important distinction to understand when choosing the right parts for a given job.

Our technicians at Buffalo Industries are trained and equipped to perform hydraulics repairs or custom hydraulics installations, as well as testing, at our 21,000 sq. ft. facility in Winnipeg. Thanks to our huge parts inventory for more than eighty manufacturers, and over 100 years of servicing trucks, Buffalo Industries provides for all of your trucking or heavy equipment needs. And because all the work is done under one roof, with parts on hand, our work process is more time-efficient.

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Quick, Efficient and Cost Effective Service

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Super

In our new location at 1687 Dugald Road, we have the capacity and all the necessary tools to take care of all trucking needs.  One service we offer is hose and fittings for trucks.  We carry a large inventory of hose and fittings onsite which means we are able to get you back on the road faster.  You can even wait onsite while we finish the work.  Quick, efficient and cost effective!

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What is the Bore of a Hydraulic Cylinder?

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Super

When discussing hydraulics, and in particular the hydraulic cylinder, you will hear such terms used as bore and stroke. These terms refer to certain measurements of a cylinder, and represent very specific and important values with regard to hydraulics repairs and custom hydraulics installation. What each term means, and how they relate to one another, are key to understanding the function of a hydraulic cylinder. In this article we will look at that first term, the bore of a hydraulic cylinder.

Very simply, the bore is the inside diameter of the tube of a hydraulic cylinder. The bore of a cylinder will directly effect the amount of power it can apply to the object it is intended to move. The larger the bore, the greater its capacity to lift or push. The size of a hydraulic cylinder is always expressed in terms of its bore dimension. Therefore, when we refer to a 4-inch cylinder, that tells you that the cylinder has an inside diameter of 4 inches.

The force that can be applied to an object is calculated using the formula Area x PSI = Force. The area is determined by the bore of the cylinder. We can see then, from this relationship between area and force, that a 2” cylinder would provide twice the force of a 1” cylinder. This is why such measurements are so important in choosing the right components for the application.

At Buffalo Industries, our technicians are equipped to perform both custom hydraulics installations and hydraulics repairs. We have all the expertise and tools needed to get the work done under one roof, at our 21,000 sq. ft. facility in Winnipeg. Whether the job calls for repairs, installation or testing, on your truck or heavy equipment, you can count on Buffalo Industries to get the job done, and get it done quickly.

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How Does a Hydraulic Cylinder Work?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Super

The principle behind hydraulic cylinders is a very simple and time-tested one. It basically works like this: A force is applied to the cylinder via an incompressible liquid (hydraulic fluid), which is then transmitted through the cylinder to its piston, which then applies the force to the object that it is meant to move, via the piston rod, which connects the cylinder to the machine component that is doing the work. That linear force applied through the piston rod will push and/or pull the object in the desired direction, according to which end of the cylinder the pressure is applied.

The oil used for the hydraulic fluid is retained inside the cylinder by the use of rings and seals, which move with the cylinder piston. The piston divides the cylinder into two separate chambers, called the cap end, and the rod end. Each end has a port where hydraulic lines can be connected, to act as either double-acting, or single-acting cylinders, depending upon whether the application requires that the cylinder apply force in both the push and pull cycles of its travel.

Varying the sizes of cylinders throughout a hydraulic system allows us to multiply the force applied from one master cylinder to another, or multiple, slave cylinder(s). In this way, it is possible to use a single source of power to apply different levels of force to numerous points within a system.

For hydraulics repairs, or for custom hydraulics installation, Buffalo technicians are trained and equipped to get the job done in a time-efficient manner. Our 21,000 sq. ft. facility in Winnipeg is stocked with parts for over eighty manufacturers, making it a one stop location for all of your trucking or heavy equipment needs.

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Get Your Hoses and Fittings Made On Site

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Super

Since 1910, Buffalo Industries has provided full service to truckers and heavy equipment operators at our family-owned business. We know how to get the job done, whatever the size, as quickly and as affordably as possible. That’s why we maintain such a large inventory of parts and accessories at our facility, and why we have a fully equipped machine shop and welding shop on site as well.

Truck repairs and servicing sometimes involves replacing parts that are difficult, and need to be replaced quickly. One such type of truck part is hoses, which can fail at the least convenient times. Air brake hoses, heater and coolant hoses, valves and fittings are subject to wear, corrosion or swelling from heat and pressure. You can’t afford to look around for replacement parts.

At Buffalo, we are fully equipped and experienced in making hydraulic hose and fittings for your truck, right here at our facility, so you don’t need to search around for the right fit.  Our expertise in this area ensures speedy service that is highly reliable.  We also have the tools and the know-how to fashion nylon or rubber air brake hoses, and replace bulkhead fittings, clamps, valves, whatever the job calls for, while you wait. We provide service and assembly all in one location so you save on time, and save on money.

Buffalo Industries LTD is a supplier of parts and accessories you can rely on, for over eighty manufacturers, and service you can trust. We also service out of town vehicles. So contact us at our Winnipeg facility, for service, repairs and inspection of your vehicle.

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