Behind the efficient ore crushing of PE jaw crushers, the lubrication system acts like the equipment's "circulatory system," crucial for ensuring long-term stable operation, reducing wear, and extending lifespan. Neglecting lubrication maintenance can lead to minor issues like bearing overheating and increased noise, or more serious malfunctions such as bearing burnout and spindle seizure, resulting in significant downtime costs.
I. Core Maintenance Points of the Lubrication System
1. Selection and Inspection of Lubricating Oil
◦ Oil Selection: Strictly follow the equipment's instruction manual and ambient temperature to select the appropriate type and viscosity of lubricating oil (usually lithium-based grease or medium-load industrial gear oil). Do not mix or substitute different brands of oil.
◦ Oil Level Check: Regularly check the oil level in the tank using the oil level gauge or oil window to ensure it remains within the specified range. Too low an oil level will result in insufficient lubrication, while too high an oil level may cause overheating and seal leaks.
◦ Oil Quality Inspection: Regularly take samples to observe the color and properties of the lubricating oil. 1. If the oil is found to be emulsified, cloudy, or contains a large amount of metal shavings, the machine must be stopped immediately and the oil replaced. The cause of water ingress or abnormal wear must be investigated.
2. Regular Lubrication and Cleaning of Lubricated Parts
◦ Bearing Housing: The main bearings of the jaw crusher (moving jaw bearing and frame bearing) are the core lubrication points and require regular grease application via a grease gun. When adding grease, continue until old grease is squeezed out from the seal ring to ensure that new grease fully enters the bearing.
◦ Thrust Plate Support: This area also requires regular grease injection to reduce frictional resistance during the movement of the moving jaw plate.
◦ Keep Clean: Before adding lubricating oil, be sure to clean the dust and debris around the grease nozzle and plug to prevent contaminants from entering the equipment with the grease.
3. Lubrication System Sealing Inspection
◦ Regularly check the bearing end caps, oil seals, and other sealing elements for damage. If oil leakage is found, the seals should be replaced promptly; otherwise, dust and moisture will enter, accelerating bearing wear.
II. Establishing a Scientific Maintenance Cycle
• Daily Inspection (per shift): Check for oil leaks, abnormal noises, and check for abnormal temperature of the bearing housings.
• Periodic Top-up (every 8 hours or as needed): Top up any points requiring grease.
• Complete Oil Change (300-500 hours of initial operation, then every 6 months to 1 year): Thoroughly clean the oil tank and replace all lubricating oil. Under harsh operating conditions, the oil change interval should be shortened appropriately.
Careful maintenance of the PE jaw crusher's lubrication system is a "small investment, big return" endeavor. It not only effectively avoids production losses due to unexpected downtime but also significantly reduces spare parts costs and maintenance workload, thereby creating greater economic benefits for the company. Making lubrication maintenance a systematic and standardized daily task is the cornerstone of ensuring your crusher is always in optimal performance condition.
