How does it work?
The Dig A Crusher is like a conventional Jaw Crusher except it is fixed at the end of an excavator. It is powered by the excavator’s hammer circuit. This operates the swing jaw inside the crusher. The broken rock and concrete fall out the bottom.
Does it require much Maintenance?
The maintenance is very simple. There are only 4 grease nipples on the Dig A Crusher which require greasing every 50 hours. The drive belt and jaw wedges also need to be checked in the first few days of working. Apart from an overall check on fixtures and fittings the Dig A Crusher is ready to go to work in the tough conditions it was designed for.
How long does it take to adjust the jaw setting?
Shimming is a quick and easy process that takes 5 minutes and allows the user to alter the size of the finished product. Simply undo the tension at the back, add or remove the spacing shims as required to make the product smaller or bigger. Then tension it up again and you are ready to go crushing.
How much noise does it generate?
In nearly all cases more noise is generated by the engine of the excavator than the Dig A Crusher. Concrete and rock can be heard being crushed but this is generally reading less than 70 decibels.
What happens if steel gets inside?
The Dig A Crusher has a relief valve built in to prevent it being damaged when uncrushable material enters the chamber. This will stop the jaw immediately if a large lump of metal should get in. Fortunately unblocking it is easy as the Dig A Crusher can be tipped upside down – unlike a conventional crusher.
What does it not like?
As with most Jaw Crushers it does not perform well when there is a lot of wet clay or soil in with the concrete and rock material. Apart from slow the operation down, it produces a very poor quality end product. Soft sticky tarmac is also difficult to crush in Dig A Crusher.
Does it use many wearing parts?
The machine is a simple design and uses very little wearing parts. The main items are jaws and a drive belt. The frame is made of Hardox and the jaws are manganese. Unlike a conventional crusher, it does not have any rollers to jam up, hoppers to repair, belts to rip or grizzly bars to block.
Does it require much training?
Any competent excavator can use this machine with confidence after 10 minutes instruction on the key points. As the operator is located in the cab of the excavator there is no chance of him falling into the jaw unlike mobile crushers. This is a one person operation so the work can continue for as long as the operator allows. He is not dependent on other people working along side him.
How small will it crush down to?
The machine will crush down to 20mm producing small size, high quality aggregate.
Does it cause any strain on the excavator?
No as the excavator is holding it in mid air so there is no vibration. The Dig A Crusher is powered by the hydraulic pump of the excavator which is well within the machines capacity and under manufacturers guidelines.
Maintenance
Do
- Ensure jaw retaining wedge bolts are kept tight at all times ( most important during first 7 days of operation ).
- Check belt tension during first 8 hours operation, then every 50 hours afterwards.
- Check draw back rod tension and relevant fittings after first 8 hours operation and after every shim adjustment
- Check all fittings on hydraulic system after first 8 hours operation
- Grease every 8 hours for first 50 hours of operation, ten pumps to each nipple ( 4 nipples in total ), then grease 10 pumps every 50 hours
Don’t
- Run machine without guards
- Operate a Dig A Crusher with return pressure overflow pipe leaking oil
- Add anymore adjustment shims than supplied with machine
- Run Dig A Crusher with excessively worn jaws
- Operate Dig A Crusher unless it is at the correct pressures and flows
- Adjust Dig A Crusher speed or hydraulic relief valve settings
Operation
Do
- Start jaw in horizontal position and slowly move to vertical position
- Minimise excavator functions whilst Dig A Crusher is operating. Ensure jaw is full to maximise production
- Take care when making excavator manoeuvres
- Unblock bucket by extending arm out and crowd Dig A Crusher upside down. Alternatively place on ground at a 20-30 degree angle and remove by bar from jaw discharge side
- Ensure hydraulic taps are fully open
Don’t
- Fill with material pieces greater than 80% of jaw opening size
- Bang bucket on the ground if blockage occurs
- Cross or kink hydraulic hoses or use quick release couplings
- Use the Dig A Crusher as a primary digging bucket or demolition hammer
- Adjust speed and hydraulic settings of the Dig A Crusher.
