Excavators, as highly efficient engineering machinery, are widely used in construction, mining, road construction, and other fields due to their powerful working capabilities. To ensure the stable operation of excavators in various complex environments, the lubrication and maintenance of attachments are particularly important. This article will focus on commonly used excavator attachments — such as hydraulic breakers and buckets—and discuss how to properly lubricate and maintain these attachments to extend their service life and improve work efficiency.
Hydraulic breakers, as one of the important attachments of excavators, are widely used in rock breaking, concrete demolition, and other work. The working conditions of hydraulic breakers are relatively harsh, and due to their high-frequency impact forces and strong friction, lubrication and maintenance are particularly crucial.
1.1 Lubrication Requirements
Lubrication of hydraulic breakers is fundamental to ensuring their normal operation. Generally, there are two types of lubricating oil for hydraulic breakers:
Impact Part Lubrication: The impact parts of the hydraulic breaker require high-efficiency lubricating oil, usually low-viscosity hydraulic oil or special lubricating oil, to ensure reduced friction and avoid overheating. The lubricating oil should be changed in a timely manner according to the ambient temperature and working load.
Bearing Lubrication: Bearings and pistons within the breaker require high-viscosity grease to withstand significant pressure and prevent wear.
Chisel and Bushing: Apply grease before operation to reduce friction. Check chisel wear before each use to prevent oil seal rupture due to wear.
Nitrogen Chamber Seal: Regularly check the nitrogen pressure in the upper cylinder to prevent reduced impact force due to nitrogen leakage. The equipment must be shut down and internal pressure released during lubrication.
1.2 Lubrication Cycle
Lubrication of the breaker should be performed according to the manufacturer's recommended cycle. It is generally recommended to check and replenish or replace the lubricating oil every 10-20 hours of operation. For frequently used equipment, the frequency of lubrication checks should be increased.
Every 500 hours of operation, rotate the excavator's upper body 45° and apply grease in three separate applications, avoiding excessive application at a single point that could damage the oil seal (the amount of grease should only be enough to cause slight seepage).
1.3 Maintenance Precautions
Regular Inspection: Check all lubrication points on the breaker to ensure sufficient lubricating oil or grease. Too little or too much lubricating oil will affect performance.
Filtration System: Regularly clean the oil filter system of the breaker to prevent impurities from entering the lubrication system and causing damage.
Temperature Monitoring: When operating in high-temperature environments, closely monitor the temperature to prevent overheating and degradation of lubricating oil performance.
The bucket is one of the most common accessories for excavators, coming into direct contact with soil, rocks, and other materials in a complex working environment. Prolonged use can lead to wear and corrosion. Proper bucket lubrication and maintenance not only improves work efficiency but also extends its service life.
2.1 Lubrication Requirements
Bucket lubrication mainly involves its connecting parts (such as pins and hinges). These parts are subject to frequent friction and collisions, making lubrication particularly important.
Pin and Hinge: Use high-pressure grease for lubrication. A medium-viscosity multi-purpose grease is recommended to effectively reduce friction and wear. Apply high-pressure grease to the hinge points after daily operation to reduce pin wear; check the bucket tooth fixing bolts for loosening or falling off.
Bucket Cutting Edge: The bucket cutting edge needs to be kept sharp. Regularly check the wear condition of the edge and sharpen it as needed. Additionally, a layer of anti-rust oil can be applied to the bucket cutting edge to prevent corrosion in humid environments.
2.2 Lubrication Cycle
The lubrication cycle of the bucket depends on the workload and environmental conditions. Generally, check the lubrication of the pins and hinges every 50-100 hours of operation. If the working environment is harsh, the lubrication frequency should be increased accordingly.
The hydraulic cylinder seals of the quick-connect coupling need to be replaced every 250 hours to prevent hydraulic oil leakage that could lead to switching failure.
2.3 Maintenance Precautions
Cleaning: Before lubrication, clean the connecting parts of the bucket to remove dirt and impurities, preventing foreign objects from entering the lubrication system.
Wear Inspection: Regularly check the wear condition of the bucket cutting edge and connecting parts, and repair or replace them promptly.
Corrosion Prevention: When operating in humid environments, the metal surface of the bucket is prone to rust. Anti-rust oil or coatings can be used for protection.
Besides the hydraulic breaker and bucket, excavators are equipped with many other attachments, such as grapples, hydraulic shears, and bucket teeth. The lubrication and maintenance methods for each attachment are slightly different, but the basic principles are the same: ensure the appropriate amount of lubricating grease is maintained and replaced promptly, regularly check the working condition of the attachments, and maintain the good performance of the attachment components.
3.1 Lubrication Requirements
All working parts of hydraulic attachments, including hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic lines, require regular addition of suitable hydraulic oil to ensure the smooth operation of the hydraulic system. The oil in the hydraulic system should be changed regularly, and the hydraulic filter element should be cleaned to prevent oil contamination.
3.2 Maintenance Precautions
Regularly check the hydraulic system: Check the quality of the hydraulic oil and replace the hydraulic filter element regularly.
Seal Inspection: Aging seals can lead to hydraulic oil leaks. Regularly check the seals and replace them promptly.
Cleaning: Ensure that working parts are not clogged with dirt or debris to avoid affecting the operation of the hydraulic system.
|
Attachment type |
Lubrication cycle |
Deep maintenance cycle |
|
Hydraulic breaker |
500 hours |
2000 hours |
|
quick connector |
Daily Lubrication Points |
500 hours |
|
Hydraulic shears/grips |
250 hours |
1000 hours |
Over-lubrication: Excessive grease application can cause oil seal expansion and failure, especially in the cylinder of a hydraulic breaker where strict control of the amount is necessary.
Mixed Hydraulic Oils: Mixing different types of hydraulic oil can cause oxidation and precipitation, accelerating valve core wear in hydraulic rock drills.
Ignoring Nitrogen Testing: Forcing operation with insufficient nitrogen pressure in the hydraulic breaker will significantly reduce breaking efficiency and damage the piston.
Proper lubrication and maintenance are crucial for the use of excavator attachments. Regular lubrication and maintenance can not only extend the service life of the equipment but also reduce malfunctions, ensuring efficient and safe operation during construction. It is recommended that operators strictly follow the manufacturer's maintenance manual, regularly check and replace lubricating oil and grease, and perform comprehensive maintenance on the equipment to ensure that excavator attachments perform optimally in any working environment.
