Hammers

[BKrois]

Just wondering who runs hammers on their machine or rents machines with hammers?

My boss rented an Akerman 200(23 ton machine) with a 3500 lb hammer for a week. We had to hammer out part of a hill for a house and also hammer out an area for a pool. I ran the machine for a few days, its amazing what they can get done. The downside seems the abuse the hammer puts on the machine.

For those of you who own machines with hammers, how much extra repairs or abuse to you see put on the machine from running a hammer on it? My friend just purchased a 2000 Kobelco SK160 and the machine is plumbed, hes considering purchasing an aftermarket hammer for it next year. Just wonder if theres any real problems to running hammers on your own machines.

[Steve Frazier]

I'd be interested in hearing this too. I've been considering a hammer for my machine, my jobs are involving demolition more often and I currently rent jack hammers.

I've heard the hammers raise hell with the bushings, is this true?

[killdozer]

The company I work for owns at least four hammers, all hydraulic. They are rough on machines but no harder than pounding rocks with the bucket and they make a lot more progress. I think the key to containing damage is twofold, lubrication and common sense.

The boom parts should all be lubricated heavily every 8 hours, more frequently if there are squeals. The hammer should be lubricated with hammer grease at least every hour and tips should be turned at least once each shift.

For the common sense part, the tip can be used to move around broken rock but should never be used to pry on stubborn rocks. Use the hammer to make them smaller. Try to start on the outer edge and work your way in instead of bulling your way through the middle of the rock. Don't try to do too much at once and last but not least, warm the tip in another machine's exhaust for a while before using the hammer in the winter. Ripping into rock-busting and pushing too quickly before warming up the tip can cause the tip to break in half to the tune of $2000 to $5000 dollars. Break a new one and see how long you remain the boss's favorite operator.

Hammers are great for working on stone or concrete foundations but I find that a larger machine with a muncher is a lot faster on walls and floor slabs and can't be beat for prepping concrete for a crusher, something a lot of companies do these days. That crushed concrete makes great aggregate and can be used almost anywhere one would use #4 crushed rock.

[cat320]

I'm renting one for a patio rip up, the days of using jack hammers are gone.Unless you have your own compressor ,hammer, hose and one strong back it's not worth it for me.I do belive that the machine would take more abuse even with all the greasing and such because of the constant pounding and vibration.I think that any one that is into using hammers on there equipment deffinatly make the big $$ with them then trade the equipment in more offen to keep the repair cost down when they reach a certain # of hours.

[PAYTON]

a hammer is sumthing you rent.. unless your a large company who can dediceate just one machine to a hammer..

swappign a hammer around is a pia.. and it kills the life of a machine.. no mater how well you take care of it.

[glsahl]

Hammers are like trenchers,designed to self destruct. We have 3,all Indeco,1000,4000,and a 5000 lbs.,even with strict regular maintenance,they are costly to run.Replacing accumulators is as regular as tools,providing you have experienced operators.If you avoid overheating the hydraulics,accumulators nitrogen checked every 6 months,and replaced every year to year and a half.Our 5000 pounder has 5 shocks in the case,if kept dry they last a year,at 250.00 a piece,that a considerable cost.Only 4 of them can be service in the field.
Tools aren't the worry you might expect.Again,providing you have experienced operators.Keep them lubed,and perpendicular to work,and ours have outlasted internal parts.Moil points are best,regular rotation of tool is minimal,chisels tend to chip at either edge,so become moils,eventually.
Most bothersome aspect is hydraulic lines.Those for the hammer a damaged regularly,on our largest,a 9'x 1 1/2" x 6wire hose runs about 500.00,each,times two,feed,and return.I go through 6 a year.Vibration causes regular replacement of orings on all boom and stick lines.Leaks at the control valve are more common.
Renting them isn't much cheaper,you still pay for damages,and have the added cost of outside labor.We've saved money by owning our hammers through in house labor,and aftermarket tools.