Crusher Maintenance: Let’s Correct Abnormal Vibrations

Abnormal crusher vibrations can be corrected simply

During the winter downtime, there are all manner of plant maintenance items on the checklist. Not every asphalt plant site has a crushing plant as well, so not every member of your ground team may have experience maintaining this piece of equipment. Let’s tackle this key component of recycling, screening and aggregate processing operations by addressing a common occurrence: abnormal vibrations.

The key is to start with easy fixes first. Don’t assume the worst. Heavy equipment issues are inevitable, but not always a sign of catastrophic failure. It’s easy to assume every issue is major or expensive, but the truth is that many common heavy equipment problems have simple solutions if you know what to look for. Many times, if you catch and address issues when they are small, you can prevent them from becoming major issues that require extended down time. Understanding the difference between a major breakdown and a minor maintenance fix can save your team time, money and unnecessary headaches.

There are some common causes and solutions to abnormal vibrations that come from your machines.

When equipment is maintained regularly, troubleshooting becomes faster and more accurate. Routine inspections help catch the simple problems before they escalate into costly downtime.

Solve Your Abnormal Crusher Vibration Problem

Common causes of abnormal vibrations include feeding issues, improper wear and tear, loose components, and misalignment. Let’s take a look at each cause and how to resolve it.

Feeding Issues

Oversized materials and uneven feeding can cause abnormal vibrations. While the machines will react to the addition of feed materials, it’s important to not add oversized materials and to evenly space out your feed loading. You can reach out to the manufacturer, or check the owner’s manual, for recommendations on feed size and timing.

Improper Wear and Tear

Impactor plates, jaw dies and blow bars in impact crushers are going to wear, but uneven wear on the liners can cause abnormal vibrations. Additionally, bearings that are worn can overheat and create noise. Add regular inspections to your schedule. The faster you can catch improper wear and tear, the less down time you will have in replacing the wear plates.

Louis Fitzpatrick was formerly a lead assembler and now is an Eagle Crusher field service technician. In this article, he offers guidance on how to troubleshoot abnormal vibrations.

Loose Components

After hours of use, bearings, shafts, fasteners and more can become loose. After completing your regular inspections, make sure to tighten or replace any components.

Misalignment

An imbalanced rotor can cause material buildup and uneven wear. Fluid couplings being misaligned can cause failure in the bearings, seals and the coupling itself. Clean any build up in the impactor or jaw crusher and replace wear parts in sets. An uneven replacement could cause more issues.

There are some common causes and solutions to abnormal vibrations that come from your machines. Your crushing and screening plant will have a sound and feel that your operator comes to recognize. If your operator or ground personnel notice any abnormal vibrations over time, as they would with any piece of heavy equipment, don’t assume you have a catastrophic failure on your hands. Starting with simple fixes first empowers your operators, minimizes downtime and keeps your equipment working hard on the job site.

Preventative Maintenance is Key

When equipment is maintained regularly, troubleshooting becomes faster and more accurate. Routine inspections help catch the simple problems before they escalate into costly downtime. Proper lubrication, timely filter changes, and a regular system check all reduce the chance of a small issue turning into a major failure. In fact, during your regular inspections, you want to make sure all items, such as hydraulic lines and bearings, are properly lubricated.

If you’re unsure what to include in your routine maintenance, reference the owner’s manual or call on your local authorized dealer or the original equipment manufacturer. For Eagle equipment, you can reach out to Eagle Crusher’s Service Team.

Oversized materials and uneven feeding can cause abnormal vibrations. This example of feeding shows material flowing freely.

When It’s Not Simple

While many equipment issues are simple, some problems truly require a trained technician. If you’ve worked through the basic checks and the machine is still malfunctioning, a deeper issue may be at play. The key is to start with the easy fixes first before assuming you have a catastrophic failure on your hands.

With a little knowledge, a keen eye and a structured approach to troubleshooting, your ground personnel can resolve many problems quickly and affordably. Understanding the difference between a major breakdown and a simple fix empowers your operators, minimizes downtime and keeps your equipment working hard on the job site.

Louis Fitzpatrick is an Eagle Crusher field service technician with 13 years of experience building and servicing crushing equipment. He was formerly a lead assembler. For more information, Eagle Crusher supports FAQs for rock crushing at EagleCrusher.com/blogs/servicequestions