The market share of mulcher attachments for excavators is steadily increasing, quickly surpassing that of other attachment types. These attachments are becoming increasingly important for various reasons, including clearing brush for new construction, preserving rights of way for utilities or pipelines, or cleaning fence rows. All of these applications, meanwhile, share the characteristic that they frequently provide a heavy-duty environment.
A mulching head for an excavator operates at peak efficiency and reduces downtime when adequately maintained. You can better control your maintenance expenses and avoid significant potential downtime by scheduling preventive maintenance for your excavator mulching head. Here are some tips:
Hydraulics
The hydraulic motor in a mulching attachment is the system’s ” heart, ” pumping hydraulic fluid to keep the mulcher operating and delivering results. Shaft seal failure or a burst hydraulic motor case might be among the most frequent and expensive malfunctions when operating a mulcher.
Operators must examine the hydraulic motor and its housing every day when conducting their examination. Verify that the area is kept tidy and debris-free and that none of the connected hoses or fittings are leaking. Additionally, hydraulic flow restriction may result from a loose case drain line connection. Inspect the hoses and fittings that link the mulcher to the carrier, ensuring the connections are tight and leak-free.
Drive Elements
Similar to mulchers mounted on skid steers, mulchers for excavators use polychain belts to transfer power from the hydraulic motor to the rotor. These belts need to be examined once a week before being used. A belt inspection cover makes examining the belt’s tension and condition simple. Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct belt tension.
Even while polychain belts can endure considerably longer, planning to replace them every 1,000 hours will ensure uptime and provide you with a functional replacement belt in case of an emergency.
Sheaves and Bearings
Sheaves and bearings are other parts that help the belt move energy from the motor to the rotor. Although the sheaves typically endure for thousands of hours, it is vital to regularly check them for wear or damage to prolong their service life. Replacement of bearings will be necessary far more frequently. Numerous factors, including the kind and rating of the bearing, the frequency and type of grease applied, exposure to water, mud, sand, or debris, and even the mulcher’s position during operation, significantly impact the bearings’ service life.
Cutter Teeth
Since the cutter teeth are the point of the most significant wear and tear on the tool, this is usually the place that requires the most upkeep. Our experts from Torrent Mulchers suggest that operators spin the cutter head and examine every tool and knife while the power is off, searching for missing, broken, or worn-out cutters. While worn-out, damaged, or missing teeth should be replaced, worn-out blades can be sharpened. This is also the time to replace any bolts or nuts. Use the sharpening gauge provided by the manufacturer, if one exists, to ensure that the knife edge is kept at the proper angle.
The Takeaway
Always spend a few minutes every day inspecting your excavator mulching head to ensure it is working well.
