Guidlines Of Use

The following information is provided in an effort to assist users of Rockeater tools to achieve maximum working life.

Working Life: In general no exact working life could be defined for any tool as this is largely dependant on the type of application and the operator’s skill.

Failure: All breaker steels will eventually need to be replaced, they will either wear out or break. Break failure is normally attributable to Fatigue or Brittle fracture.

Fatigue failures can occur inside or outside the hammer and can be avoided by employing the following precautions:

Ignoring these precautions will lead to ‘Surface Scoring’ and the setup of surface ‘stress raiser’ which will start a fatigue crack leading to premature tool failure. Fatigue failures usually occur crosswise to the axis along which the energy is being applied and will develop gradually from the stress raiser. Fatigue failures are recognisable by half moon radial marks through a portion of the section as shown in the sketch below.

Brittle Fracture: There are two obvious reasons for this type of failure.               

• Extreme Cold - Zero or sub-zero temperatures will render the tool to be fragile, this can be best avoided in the cold weather by storing the tool at the end of the working day, indoors at room temperature. Localised heating with a blow torch or similar appliance must NEVER be attempted.
• Mechanical Leverage - Breakage will occur due to excessive bending, use of excavator force on the tool (e.g. to free a trapped tool), wrong working angle or applying the tool for mechanical handling of large rocks.

Excavator Operation: It is essential that the hydraulic breaker tool be applied to it’s task at a right angle (90º) to the working surface at all times.

Blank Firing: or Idle strokes can cause tool breakage or damage to the tool retainer pin groove and should be avoided at all costs.

Wear of Internal Hammer Parts: As already stated, worn or damaged internal parts can cause surface abuse leading to fatigue failure, also if excessive wear is allowed and the tool is ‘sloppy’ in the hammer, uneven striking will occur between the end of the tool and the piston, leading to Brittle fracture failure and possible damage to the piston.

Rockeater tools are designed to provide more than adequate service life as expected from such a quality product, however the above precautions and proper use must be observed.

Lubrication: Grease tool shank and bushings at least 4 times per shift, obvserve the correct tool position to avoid over greasing.

Wear: Tool guide bushings and retaining pins must be regularly checked for wear and should be replaced if exceeding the hammer recommended tolerance. Doing this will help avoid tool breakage.

Overheating: Avoid overheating the tool end. Do not continue hammering in the same spot for more than the hammer’s recommended operating time. (usually a maximum of 10 seconds).

The Correct Working Position: The tool should be applied to the working surface at right angles (90º) at all times.

Blank Firing: The tool must be positioned on the working surface before starting the hammer. Once the material is broken, stop the hammer immediately before moving to a new spot.

Tool Misuse: Avoid levering the tool or slamming it to move a large rock.