Excavator Breaker Tips,How to Minimize Damage While Hammering.

In various engineering projects, the breaker hammer, as an important accessory of the excavator, undertakes high-intensity tasks such as demolition, road opening, and stone breaking. It can efficiently break hard structures and greatly improve work efficiency. However, many operators do not understand how to hit the hammer to reduce damage to the excavator, and long-term incorrect use may cause early damage to the equipment or even safety accidents.

The following summarizes five operating points that must be kept in mind when using the breaker hammer to help you extend the service life of the equipment and reduce maintenance costs.

1. Do not use the breaker hammer guard to push heavy objects

　⑴. Excavator breaker hammers cannot push heavy objects is one of the most commonly ignored principles in operation. At some work sites, the crushing area is blocked by debris, and some operators will directly use the breaker hammer to push it away, which is very dangerous.

　⑵. The breaker hammer body is relatively light and does not have a thrust function. Forcibly pushing heavy objects will cause deformation or breakage of the breaker hammer guard plate at the least, and cause the main machine boom to break or even overturn the entire machine. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to use the breaker hammer as a bulldozer.

2. Avoid working at the limit stroke position of the oil cylinder

　⑴. When using a hydraulic breaker, it is necessary to avoid hammering at the limit stroke of the excavator oil cylinder The oil in the two chambers of the hydraulic cylinder has a certain vibration absorption effect in the normal stroke, which can reduce the impact caused by the blow.

　⑵. If the hammer is hit at the position where the oil cylinder is fully extended or fully retracted, it will not only reduce the buffer, but also easily cause the oil cylinder to deform and the seal to fail. In severe cases, it may even damage the boom structure.

3. It is strictly forbidden to hit empty

　⑴. Many operators forget to stop working immediately after the material is broken, resulting in empty hitting of the excavator breaker hammer. When hitting empty, the impact force of the piston cannot be effectively transmitted to the broken object, but all reacts to the steel chisel pin and the machine body itself.

　⑵. Long-term empty hitting will cause the steel chisel pin to break, the chisel rod to wear seriously, and even affect the main boom system, causing damage to the entire machine. Therefore, the operation should be stopped immediately after each crushing, and it is forbidden to continue hammering.

4. Keep the drill rod perpendicular to the crushing surface (90°)

　⑴. The correct hammering angle is crucial. During operation, the hammer rod should be kept at a 90° angle to the crushed object to avoid lateral impact. If the crushing surface has been broken or the object has shifted, the drill rod direction should be adjusted immediately, and the position should be repositioned before starting the operation.

　⑵. Non-vertical operation not only reduces the crushing efficiency, but also causes abnormal wear on the drill rod and the drill rod seat, shortening the service life.

5. Continuously hit the same point for no more than one minute

　⑴. Continuous hammering without changing position for a long time can easily cause the drill rod to heat up or even melt the tip, especially when facing hard rock or concrete structures. If it is still not broken within one minute, the angle or position should be changed in time.

　⑵. Too long a time of hitting will generate a lot of heat, causing the steel drill to anneal and soften, which not only affects the crushing efficiency, but also accelerates tool loss.

Although it is an almost unavoidable fact that using a breaker will damage the excavator, standardized operation can greatly reduce the equipment failure rate and extend the service life of the entire machine. In daily operations, please be sure to keep the above five points in mind and regularly perform maintenance and inspections on the breaker and excavator to truly reduce costs and increase efficiency.

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Q1: Can using a hydraulic breaker damage an excavator?

　 A1: Yes, improper use of a hydraulic breaker on an excavator can cause premature wear to the boom, hydraulic cylinders, and even the main body. Proper operation significantly reduces long-term damage.

Q2: What happens if the breaker is used without contact (dry firing)?

　 A2: Dry firing a hydraulic breaker transfers shock directly to the chisel and retainer pins, causing fractures or wear. Prolonged dry firing can severely damage both the breaker and the excavator’s arm.

Q3: How long can you break in the same spot before causing damage?

　 A3: It’s recommended not to continuously break in one position for more than 60 seconds. Overheating the chisel can lead to tip deformation and reduced efficiency, harming the breaker’s lifespan.

Q4: What is the best angle to use a breaker on an excavator?

　 A4: Maintain a consistent 90-degree angle between the chisel and the breaking surface. Keeping the tool perpendicular helps avoid chisel bending, jamming, or inefficient force transfer.