Proper maintenance of your mini excavator is crucial for ensuring long-lasting performance. Regular greasing prevents wear and tear, reduces noise, and keeps your machine running smoothly. This guide walks you through the process of greasing your mini excavator’s work arm, helping you maintain your equipment with ease.
(Reading Time: 5-8 Minutes)
Why Greasing is Important?
Greasing your mini excavator isn’t just a good idea—it’s crucial. Without proper lubrication, the pivot points on the work arm face constant stress, leading to increased friction and faster wear. If you skip greasing, you’re inviting noisy operation, rough performance, and costly repairs down the line. Keep things smooth and extend the life of your equipment by making greasing a regular habit.
When to Grease?
To keep your mini digger’s work arm in optimal condition, grease the moving pins and pivot points:
- Initial Use: Grease the work arm’s pivot points the first time you use your mini excavator.
- Regular Maintenance: After the initial use, grease the pivot points every 8 hours of operation. This regular maintenance schedule ensures your machine stays in top working order.
What Tools and Materials Do You Need?
Before you start, gather the following tools and materials:
- Lithium-based grease #2: This is the recommended grease for heavy machinery like micro excavators. It’s included with your equipment in small amounts.
- Grease gun: A grease gun is essential for applying grease to the work arm’s pivot points. AHM mini excavator typically comes with one.
Key Areas to Grease
There are 11 critical pivot points on the work arm that require regular greasing to maintain smooth operation:
- Pivots between the bucket and connecting rod
- Pivot at the base of the boom
- Pivots of the boom cylinder
- Pivot between boom and arm; pivots of arm cylinder; pivots of bucket cylinder
Step-by-Step Guide to Greasing the Work Arm
Greasing the Slew Bearing
- Position the small excavator on level ground.
- Lower the bucket to the ground.
- Allow the engine to idle at low speed for 5 minutes.
- Switch the ignition OFF and remove the key.
- While the upper structure remains stationary, apply grease to the two grease nozzles until the old grease overflows.
- Initiate the engine to raise the bucket clear of the ground. Rotate the cab by 45 degrees (1/8 circle).
- Repeat the steps 2–6 until the bucket rotates a full circle.
DO NOT over-grease, as it can damage the seal of the swing support, leading to grease leaks and the entry of dust, exacerbating wear and tear.
Lubricating the Meshing Gear of the Slew Bearing
- Park the excavator on level ground.
- Lower the bucket to the ground.
- Allow the engine to idle at low speed for 5 minutes.
- Switch the ignition OFF and remove the key.
- Ensure the grease is stored free from contamination on top of the external meshing gear of the slewing bearing.
If necessary, add approximately 0.5 kg of grease. Any contaminated grease should be replaced with fresh grease.
Note: Lithium grease is recommended.
Conclusion
Regularly greasing your mini excavator is crucial for maintaining its performance and extending its lifespan. By following this guide, you’ll ensure that your equipment operates smoothly with minimal wear and tear. Remember, at AHM, we offer high-quality mini excavators and top-notch support for all your equipment needs.
