Rotary hammer lubricants: what is it, how to choose and use?

Rotary hammers require careful maintenance during use. For their long-term operation, different types of lubricants are used. Compositions can be mineral, semi-synthetic, and synthetic. Mineral minerals are made from petroleum products, therefore they quickly lose their operational characteristics, and they have to be changed quite often.

It is very important to choose a composition that will be suitable for the selected type of hammer drill.

Lubricant is a viscous substance that reduces the coefficient of friction between tool parts. The work of the hammer drill is associated with a huge number of different rotational movements, which increases the degree of wear of structural elements.

In terms of its physical and technical parameters, grease for a drill, piston, drill, as well as a gearbox and other elements is almost the same as greases of all other types. It is a rather viscous substance of oily structure, it is used to reduce the frictional force of rotating parts, thereby reducing the wear of the operating mechanisms.

Over time, the lubricant is impregnated with dust, which is formed during drilling, grinding and crushing - this leads to a change in the degree of its viscosity. In this situation, friction, on the contrary, increases and the rate of wear increases, so the lubricant should be renewed from time to time. In order for the perforator to serve longer, you should clearly understand which parts can be lubricated and how often it should be done.

The device has a complex structure, including several complex units:

• body with anti-vibration protection;
• horizontally or vertically located electric motor;
• piston system;
• cartridge;
• a gearbox in the form of a body - it contains cylindrical bevel and worm gears;
• clutch required to stop rotation;
• working nozzle (drill, as well as a chisel, lance or blade).

Almost all hammer drill mechanisms are subject to lubrication.

• Reducer... This is the mechanism that is responsible for the speed of rotation of the main working nozzle. It protects the parts located inside from dust and dirt, therefore it is equipped with a protective coating. During the operation of the tool, its parts experience enormous loads due to the constantly increasing friction between them, which, in turn, leads to rather rapid wear.

• Cartridge... In addition to the gearbox, you need to lubricate the cartridge, as well as the landing site of the replaceable nozzles. The cartridge is initially dry, therefore, after purchase, it should be lubricated in the area in contact with the tail of the nozzle - this is where the maximum friction occurs. If it is not reduced in a timely manner, then the degree of wear increases sharply, which quickly leads to its damage.

• Tail nozzle... This part wears out under the influence of impact forces, which, when heated, increase its abrasion.The shanks must be lubricated every time they are installed, but before that you need to wipe off the dust with a napkin and remove all contamination.

Depending on the features of operation, perforators can operate in different modes - some use the tool daily, others only from time to time, so there is no clear answer about the frequency of lubrication of the working parts of the tool. Usually, the operating instructions clearly describe the procedure for lubricating the parts.

When deciding to change the lubricant, they are guided by the moments:

• the frequency of use of the punch;
• tips outlined in the user manual;
• warranty period.

One of the main parameters that is taken into account when purchasing a lubricant is the viscosity of the oil. High quality products are usually expensive, but in this case, you do not need to save. The hammer drill is an expensive tool, so you should constantly take care of its performance. Usually, the types of grease are listed in the instructions, but if information is not available, then you can always consult the manager of the service center or the outlet where the device was purchased. Experts will select the optimal composition for the hammer drill.

There are also universal compounds that can be used to lubricate different types of drills. In recent years, graphite lubricants have been very popular.because they have good toughness and a high level of quality.

Experienced professionals confirm that many branded mixtures are of much lower quality than mixtures produced on the basis of graphite... In addition, they have a fairly affordable cost, so many people confidently make a choice in their favor.

For perforators, you should take substances such as solid oil and lithol... Litol - 25 is a high quality durable material that has a low cost. Therefore, it is very popular with power tool owners.

Do not forget that such mixtures can cause slight braking of rotating structures, and can also significantly increase the heating of the tool during operation.

A a more fluid compound is required to lubricate the gearbox, which must completely cover the contacting parts, filling the free cavities. And here if there are plastic parts in the gearbox, then the grease can only be silicone.

The transmission mechanism can also be lubricated with plastic compounds, however, not every technique can function without interruptions when using funds with a similar consistency.

Thicker mixes are suitable to reduce wear on the tail nozzles. Usually it is indicated on the packaging that they are intended for handling drills.

For cartridges, silicone grease options can be used... Lubricants are branded, which are manufactured by manufacturers of electrical tools, for example, Hitachi or Metabo, as well as AEG, Bosch or Interskol. They can also be produced by enterprises specializing in the production of lubricant mixtures.

The most popular brands are:

• Bosch - produces oils for lubrication by the gearbox and tail nozzles;
• Makita - purchased for drills;
• Lubcon Thermoplex - manufacture products for gearboxes;
• Turmogrease - universal lubricants;

• Nanotech - used for shanks;
• Interskol - are optimal for drilling drills;
• PRORAB - represents the composition used for the treatment of the tailpieces seats;
• Kress - used for lubrication greasing drills.

When it comes to lubricating a rotary hammer at home, as a rule, they mean changing the lubricant on its individual parts by yourself. First of all, the gearbox should be lubricated - this mechanism is quite easy to disassemble, but it has a complex structure, so all actions must be carried out in a strictly defined order.

First you need to prepare the necessary materials:

• dry clean cloth - rags;
• locksmith tools that are needed to assemble the gearbox;
• the lubricant itself.

In most cases, world-famous manufacturers, such as Bosch and Makita, indicate in the operating manual the entire procedure for disassembling and assembling devices and issue important recommendations. The owners of rotary hammers, who are faced with such work for the first time, following these tips, can master all the manipulations quite quickly, spending a minimum of effort.

But if such a guide is not at hand, then you should work according to a certain algorithm.

• The tool must be free of dust and dirt.
• When disassembling and then assembling the drill and hammer drill, you need to remember as accurately as possible the order of arrangement of all functional parts so as not to confuse them during disassembly. Better to use video recording.
• All work related to the lubrication of parts is performed only after a certain time after the stop of the drill. It must cool down, otherwise the cooled grease may cause the power tool to malfunction if it comes into contact with hot spots.
• After taking out all the basic parts, including the gearbox, they are washed with spindle oil or gasoline, and then thoroughly dried from excess moisture. Pay particular attention to the gearbox.
• Every detail of the device should be inspected as carefully as possible. In some areas, there is no lubrication, which means that you do not need to apply a new composition to this place.
• After applying the composition, the gearbox is carefully assembled in the reverse order. If this is done correctly, then the hammer drill can be immediately used in work.

In addition to the gearbox, the drill should also be lubricated. In this case, the tail part of the mechanism, as in the first case, is washed with gasoline, cleaned and dried, and only after that it is carefully coated with specialized oils.

Simultaneously it makes sense to handle the cartridge oil seal with your own hands, this will significantly increase the period of its service, as well as protect against dust penetration. However, it should not be overlooked that lubricate it only when a system with an open type chuck is mounted on the perforator... If the system is closed, there is no need for lubrication.

Owners of drills and hammer drills often wonder about the frequency of lubrication. Determining the time frame is problematic, but on average, the optimal period for an oil change is considered to be a period of 12 months in case the instrument is operated in medium intensity mode.

Lubrication of many modern instruments is greatly simplified through the introduction of a number of useful improvements. For example, popular brands often make special holes in the technique into which the lubricating composition is simply poured, and the need for its disassembly and subsequent assembly disappears.

Typically, such systems are designed very competently - in addition to the holes for filling the oil, there are also outlets through which the damaged grease is drained.

There are special marks on the surface of the appliance that directly indicate how much lubricant is needed to maintain the functional operation of the power tool.

Lack of lubricant is often the main cause of serious rock drill malfunctions. In the crushing mode, the lubricant is wasted in a significant amount, and if there is too little lubricant on the gearbox or drill, this often causes overheating of the entire device.

For information on how to properly lubricate the punch, see the next video.