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PortuguêsHydraulic hammers: grease is the lifeblood of the tool
This month we are looking at Alfredo Alonso Zamorano's experience. He is a professional who has worked for many years with his Komatsu WB91R in the area around Sotillo de la Adrada in Ávila, mainly preparing and repairing roads, pavements, and highways. Unsurprisingly, he makes frequent and intensive use of the hydraulic hammer that is fitted to his backhoe, and he talked to us about the great concern that is shared by anyone who operates machinery: how to grease the hammer and avoid breakages and breakdowns.
The hammer should always be greased when work is begun with enough grease being applied to the chisel that it spills over between the tool and the lower bushing. The tool must be placed against a hard surface until it cannot move any more inside the hammer. This prevents the grease from entering the plunger impact area and ensures that it is properly distributed between the tool and the bushing, forming a film. The hammer must be operated until the tool’s riser begins to have a dry appearance. It must then be checked and regreased after every hour of work, because breaking the piston, bushings, or tips is an expensive problem when it could be prevented with a few minutes spent checking.
Choosing the correct grease is the most important decision. Manufacturers of hydraulic hammers recommend lithium EP greases, with NLGI grade 2 and protection up to 170 ºC. However, Alfredo Alonso has chosen Maxigras Complex Pick, from OLIPES, for his machine. It is a grease with superior functionality and extremely high performance, formulated with solid lubricant additives and micronised copper, especially designed to lubricate tools in hydraulic hammers that are subjected to huge forces, extreme loads, vibration, environmental humidity, and high temperatures.
Using Maxigras Complex Pick, protection is guaranteed up to 270 ºC and, thanks to the solid additives in the mixture, it can provide dry-film lubrication in extreme situations up to 1,100 ºC Furthermore, it provides excellent resistance to washing with water, a factor that is very important due to the climate in the area where he routinely works. There are not many greases that can offer these benefits.
Alfredo also talked to Victor Alonso from VICMAQ, one of OLIPES’ partners in the Machinery sector in the central area, who prefers to use a specific grease for his hammer that is different to the one he uses to grease the rest of the machine (Maxigras Complex EP), rather than experiencing a breakage or breakdown, which can, in the worst-case scenario, entail repair costs in excess of 1,000 euros, as well as the loss of several days of work. It is clear that these professionals are not taking any risks and are choosing to place their trust in manufacturers such as OLIPES, who supply products that offer the greatest security and high performance, even in harsh and intense working conditions.
Once again, OLIPES offers the best solution for your machine. Let us know your lubrication problems by sending an email to the technical assistance service email address - we will be delighted to respond: olipesresponde@olipes.com
