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hydraulic hammer

What Is a Hydraulic Hammer?

At some point, you may have asked, “What is a hydraulic hammer?” Initially debuting in 1967, the hydraulic hammer has surged in popularity ever since. It is estimated that immediately after Krupp Berco Bautechnik’s hydraulic hammer was introduced, over 2,000 units were ordered by eager customers. It wasn’t long before tool companies worldwide introduced their own versions of a hydraulic hammer, changing how the construction and quarrying industries worked forever.

Hydraulic hammers are typically attached to excavators and powered by hydraulics. They are most commonly used in circumstances where traditional blasting methods and jackhammering are not possible. Hydraulic hammers have both increased safety and efficiency when breaking down large concrete structures. They’ve become an integral part of most demolition processes.

How Does a Hydraulic Hammer Work?

Hydraulic fluid is the lifeblood of all hydraulic hammers. Utilizing an auxiliary hydraulic system when attached to an excavator, hydraulic hammers use stored pressure from a canister to create force. In turn, this energy is then used to push the hammer. The power of a hydraulic hammer far exceeds that of conventional hammering systems, allowing those in the demolition and construction industries to speed up work and reduce overall operating costs.

There are two different types of hammers utilized on job sites. The key difference between these two types of hydraulic hammers is the valve. One version of the hammer uses an internal valve, while the other uses an external valve. Most other components remain the same between the two versions. They include the front cap for impact protection, side rods to support the breaker, nitrogen chamber for power supply, main valve to assist the hammer, and the piston. Additionally, hydraulic hammer size varies according to the application it’s needed for.

How Is Force Generated For the Hammer?

Pascal’s law is the reason hydraulic hammers work so well. This principle in fluid mechanics states that when pressure is applied to one part of a confined fluid, that force is transferred to the entirety of the fluid and multiplied.

During operation, hydraulic oil is supplied through a valve. When the piston moves upward, the upper chamber pressure is released via the main valve through the outlet. Then the high pressure in the lower chamber pushes the piston upward. As the piston returns to the highest point of the stroke, the main valve directs the flow to the high-pressure chamber. The piston then travels down due to the force applied from the gas chamber. Following the impact, the process repeats, creating the repetitive action of hammering.

How Is a Hydraulic Hammer Used?

After their development and release, hydraulic hammers quickly become a mainstay in multiple industries. Their ability to accomplish tasks, increase worker safety and productivity, and reduce operating costs led to widespread adoption. Hydraulic hammers are most commonly used in:

• Construction
• Demolition
• Quarrying

If you’re interested in purchasing a certified rebuilt breaker or need hydraulic breaker & hammer parts, contact our team today. We offer a wide range of hydraulic hammers from the industry’s leading manufacturers. We also provide full service to keep your tools running strong. Call now to learn more about Hydraulic Breaker Services LLC.

A hydraulic breaker arm at work during sunset.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Hydraulic Breakers

Atlas hydraulic breakers are an incredibly powerful tool to use in construction projects. However, like all other hydraulic breakers, their strength can cause a lot of damage if operators aren’t careful with them. As a result, there are many rules operators must follow when it comes to operating hydraulic hammers and similar equipment. Here are the many do’s and don’ts of hydraulic breakers so you can ensure your project is safe for everyone involved.

What to Do When Operating a Hydraulic Breaker

• Always match the hydraulic flow of the breaker with the pressure requirements of the carrier.
• While operating a hydraulic breaker, reposition it every 15-30 seconds until the material breaks. As this happens, maintain a downwards pressure on the breaker.
• You should only run the breaker while you are in the operator’s seat, as you have complete control over it there.
• The head should be capable of moving freely during operations.
• Flow test the excavator, mini-excavator, or skid steer beforehand because if you don’t, then their lifespan will not be as long as expected.
• Routinely lubricate the breaker to protect the tool brushings from damage.
• Remove the bit of the breaker on a weekly basis and check for wear on the tool shank. Galling, a form of wear caused by the friction of materials pressing against one another may appear there if it does not receive proper lubrication.
• Perform visual inspections of hydraulic hammers daily, as the regular stress and vibrations can lead to performance issues.
• Make certain that the person who is operating a hydraulic breaker understands how it functions and the signs they should look out for during routine visual inspections.

What Not to Do When Operating a Hydraulic Breaker

• When using your hydraulic breaker, do not operate it while it is suspended in the air. This error is known as blank firing; instead, keep it planted firmly against the material you intend to break.
• While operating hydraulic hammers, never leave it in the same spot for a long period of time. By doing so, you would create an excessive amount of heat that can lead to tool breakage.
• Do not use a hydraulic breaker underwater because if you do, it will contaminate the hydraulic system. Using hydraulic hammers underwater is possible, but only if you attached their air compressor kit exactly as instructed.
• If you ever use a hydraulic breaker in a trench, do not ever let the breaker touch the trench walls.
• Never try to break down large objects from the center, as it will significantly increase the breakout force and cause it to stress the breaker out and overheat the demolition tool. To circumvent this issue, approach large objects from the outer edges and gradually work your way inward.
• Only use a hydraulic breaker for its intended purpose. While operating a hydraulic breaker, do not use it to lift, move, or pry objects. There are other tools designed to handle those functions.

Don’t fail to report any signs of wear or breakage so that they can be properly addressed.

If you’re searching the market for hydraulic hammer components, Hydraulic Breaker Services LLC has the parts you’re looking for to repair your tools!

A hydraulic cement breaker lies on the ground at a job site.

Why You Need to Grease a Hydraulic Hammer

Whether you have a Stanley, Tramac, or CAT 130 hydraulic hammer, it’s important to know how to maintain it properly. Hydraulic Breaker Services, LLC can help you keep your equipment in good working order. We also like to provide helpful tips that prolong the useful life of your hydraulic breaker. Follow the tips and instructions below to grease the hydraulic hammer and improve performance.

Why It’s Important to Grease a Hydraulic Hammer

You may wonder why it’s vital to grab the grease gun and lubricate the hydraulic breaker. It receives significant wear and tear where it meets the bushings. Failing to lubricate at proper intervals increases wear rates and causes more frequent tool replacement.

In order to continue dispersing heat properly and prevent debris from accumulating in the breaker, it’s imperative to perform regular hydraulic hammer maintenance.

How To Grease Your Hydraulic Rock Breaker

When you grease the hydraulic hammer, firmly press the tool inside the rock breaker to control the amount of grease entering the chamber. If you used too much grease, it could cause the moving parts inside the chamber to freeze up. It could also cause a seal failure or allow grease to get into the system when you start a hydraulic hammer.
When conducting hydraulic hammer maintenance, place the hammer in a vertical position. This provides enough downward pressure to move the tool up into the housing. Continue greasing until clean grease slides down around the tool and retainer pins.

Grease the hydraulic hammer every two hours for optimal results. You should also grease the tool whenever it appears shiny inside the front head. Make sure to use the grease recommended by the manufacturer. For example, BTI chisel paste works great as a lubricant for BTI’s hydraulic rock breakers. If you use general EP purpose grease, it can run down the tool and melt without properly lubricating the demolition equipment.

Tips for Hydraulic Hammer Maintenance

Hydraulic hammer maintenance can reduce wear and tear on the equipment. Adequate lubrication can protect the sensitive moving parts in a rock breaker. Here are a few tips to follow when you grease the hydraulic hammer.

Complete a Visual Inspection

When conducting hydraulic hammer maintenance, start with a visual inspection period, this only takes a few minutes, but many operators forget to do it. With a visual inspection, you can identify warm parts and prevent downtime. The graphite and copper material used to construct the hammer build up heat and require frequent lubrication.

Check the Bushing

Every time you perform hydraulic hammer maintenance, check the tool bushing. If you can place the tall flat inside and turn it, you may need to replace the bushing.

Examine Hydraulic Hoses

Hydraulic hoses decrease wear and tear when they are the correct length. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that the hoses provide the required extension. On the other hand, long hoses can become disengaged on rebar and other items.
Contact Hydraulic Breaker Services for maintenance, sales, and service of hydraulic hammers. We also sell Kent hydraulic hammers for sale. Reach out today for more exclusive offers!

Hydraulic breaker digging in the ground at construction site.

4 Leading Brands of Hydraulic Breaker & Hammer Parts

Hydraulic hammers have become a mainstay of construction projects across the world. While the equipment itself is ubiquitous, it’s not always clear where you can find hydraulic breaker and hammer parts or if you can even make repairs to the equipment once it wears out. If you’ve worked with hydraulic breakers for a long time, then you may be able to tell when you need repairs, but who can you turn to for replacement hydraulic breaker parts?
Here are a few of the brands that Hydraulic Breaker Services can be trusted to provide quality hydraulic hammers and hydraulic breaker and hammer parts to repair them with:

Allied/Rammer

Allied has been making hydraulic breakers and hydraulic hammers for decades and is, therefore, a leader in the industry. Their breaker tools fall into two categories:

  • The Excellence Series
  • The Performance Series

The Excellence Series is designed to provide excellent service coupled with unparalleled versatility. Each piece of equipment has heavy-duty housing to provide extended life while handling heavy-duty services such as excavation, slag removal, and more. Additionally, these tools are designed so that you can easily replace the hydraulic breaker and hammer parts whenever they wear out.
The Performance Series, by contrast, is designed to allow for high productivity in all spaces, including urban locales. The heavy-duty housing is specially made to allow for high-impact performance while maintaining a relatively low noise profile.

Atlas Copco

Atlas Copco is a significant manufacturer of mini excavators and other equipment that is extremely useful when handling construction jobs. They offer fourteen different hydraulic hammers that are well suited for a wide range of situations.
For example, the LH-180, a standard model for Atlas Copco, is a hydraulic breaker that works well as a multi-purpose breaker. It provides easy handling, significant power and is highly ergonomic to reduce the amount of fatigue that occurs due to its operation.

BTI/Astec

BTI has rebranded as Astec but still provides high-quality hydraulic breakers that can be used in a wide variety of construction projects.
Every one of Astec’s hydraulic breaker and hammer parts have been designed to provide compact power and precision. Astec’s equipment offers easy maintenance with easy integration of replacement parts if one of the hydraulic hammer parts wears out.

CAT

CAT is a name brand in construction circles because it is known for providing high-quality hydraulic hammers and other construction equipment. Each piece undergoes proper heat treatment to enable it to withstand the stress that a standard hydraulic hammer undergoes in the course of its everyday usage. When parts wear out, they can easily be swapped for spare parts that are kept on hand specifically for that purpose.
For more information about these brands or quotes for hydraulic breaker and hammer parts, call the Hydraulic Breaker Services team today!

Does My Hydraulic Breaker Need Maintenance?

At Hydraulic Breaker Services LLC, we work hard to extend the life of our customers’ hydraulic breakers. We offer services to renew them, often even when other shops just want to sell a new one. We offer used hydraulic breakers to help you stay on target and budget. An essential part of keeping hydraulic breakers in service is keeping up with the maintenance. Do you know what the signs are that it’s time to get yours some maintenance and care?

Designed for Tough Work, Breakers Need Specific Care

Breaking through rock, concrete, asphalt, and other tough materials, hydraulic breakers fail hard when they aren’t up to the job. With that failure come potential losses in project time and costs, and the difference between a renewable breaker and one that’s beyond repair. It’s essential to make daily visual inspections a routine part of hydraulic breaker use. Items to check for overall condition, signs of wear, and damage such as cracks or gouges include:

  • Hydraulic hoses
  • Breaker shell
  • Attachment pins
  • Tool retainers and locks
  • Tool points
  • Checking Tolerances

Follow manufacturer recommendations for specific tolerance checks on the breaker. These usually include the top angle of the breaker attachment, the retaining pins, and the lower bushing. These checks help to reduce the wear on the unit and, when out of tolerance, indicate that it’s time for prompt maintenance.

Other Critical Checks to Reduce Maintenance and Damage Costs

  1. Keep up with the hose and oil pressure checks, especially right after the breaker is installed.
  2. Tool length checks help avoid direct damage to the outer casing and indirect damage from absorbing vibration and heat.
  3. Nitrogen pressure checks help avoid increased wear and damage. Watch for hopping hoses and low power as signs that maintenance is needed.
  4. Stop and call for service if there are oil leaks. Multiple protections can be degraded as the oil escapes, and damage can be quick.

Rely On Our Services, Turn To Us for Information

Our mission is to help you get the best and most reliable service out of your equipment, with a range of expert services and essential information for you and your operators. We also have hydraulic breakers for sale. Call the experts at Hydraulic Breaker Services LLC for all your hydraulic breaker needs, including advice and information.