Unless there is visible damage to the externals of the accumulator, most failures are caused either by the gas valve failing/getting damaged or due to the bladder failing.
Listed below are the most common causes of bladder failure
- Pin hole in the upper part of the bladder
- Inadequate vulcanization (seam separation)
- Vertical Fatigue Crack
- Chemical attack by an aggressive fluid
- Burst on the middle part of the bladder
- Abrasive effects by sharp edged folds
- Burst on the bottom of the bladder
- Crack in the bottom of the bladder
- Extrusion into the fluid port
- Poppet Cut
- Fluid Incompatibility
- Twist Off
- Contamination
- High Temperature
- Low Temperature
