The hydraulic breaker is a multi-purpose device that you can apply e.g. for trenching, demolition and cutting frozen ground or asphalt. Careless use can however cause the breaker to leak in cold weather, often resulting in job interruptions. These are the ways to keep your hydraulic breaker in striking condition, even in cold weather:
- Start the excavator and only move the excavator and its boom. At first, cold and viscous oil can block the precise valve mechanism of the hydraulic hammer.
- Preheat your hydraulic hammer by driving the oil through the breaker for a few minutes when the temperature is below 0 degrees. Heating the breaker oils helps the seals last longer and prevents the pressure accumulator from breaking. All Robi-EH series hydraulic hammers have an idle blow protection, which prevents the breaker from hitting when the tool is not pressed against the object to be broken, which in turn extends the life of the breaker. Idle blow protection can easily be turned off when the hammer is used, for example, in rock scaling or breaking soft rock.
- Take care of tool greasing! Grease flow in cold weather slows down considerably. Regularly check breaker tool neck and, if necessary, grease the tool by hand with a grease gun. A good way is to store grease is in a warm driver’s cabin! A poorly lubricated tool significantly increases the wear of the tool and the tool bushings. There is also a special grease for cold weather, which works better in freezing weather.
With these instructions, you will be able to work with your hydraulic hammer even in the most demanding conditions. Regular maintenance keeps your hammer in good condition and allows you to focus on the job. Book a maintenance appointment for your hydraulic hammer at aftersales@ramtec.fi or +358 44 7800 666. Ramtec offers fast, high-quality, competitive maintenance and spare parts support for hydraulic hammers and other excavator attachments.