Hydraulic Breaker Greasing: How Often Is Enough?

Hydraulic breakers, also known as hydraulic hammers or rock breakers, play a vital role in demolition, construction, and mining industries. Their operational efficiency and lifespan depend heavily on proper hydraulic breaker maintenance, especially regular lubrication. Many operators wonder how often to grease a hydraulic breaker to keep it running smoothly. This article provides a comprehensive guide on hydraulic breaker lubrication frequency and explains why consistent greasing is crucial for optimal performance and durability.

How Often Should a Hydraulic Breaker Be Greased?

Grease Every 2 Hours During Normal Operation

For standard hydraulic breaker applications, such as foundation breaking, road construction, or general demolition, you should grease the breaker every 2 hours of use. Use a high-pressure grease gun to apply lubricant until it slightly overflows from the tool’s bushing or guide sleeve.

Why? The chisel or tool bit moves rapidly within the hydraulic hammer’s bushings, creating friction and heat. Regular greasing prevents metal-to-metal contact, reduces wear, maintains stable operating temperatures, and extends the hydraulic breaker’s lifespan.

Grease Every 1 Hour Under High-Intensity or Harsh Conditions

Increase the lubrication frequency to every hour when the breaker operates under heavy-duty or severe conditions. These include continuous long-hour work shifts, breaking hard or abrasive materials like granite or reinforced concrete, working in dusty, muddy, or high-temperature environments such as quarries and mines, or when running the hydraulic breaker at a high impact rate.

Why? These conditions accelerate grease degradation and loss. If you neglect timely lubrication, dry friction will cause overheating, premature bushing wear, and can even lead to tool seizure or hydraulic breaker failure.

Always Grease Before Each Startup

Before starting the hydraulic breaker each day, apply grease even if you lubricated it the previous day. During overnight or extended shutdown periods, grease can settle, harden, or drain from critical components.

Why? Starting a hydraulic hammer without adequate lubrication causes direct metal-to-metal contact and rapid heat buildup. This damages bushings and tool bits, leading to costly repairs. Greasing before startup ensures safe and smooth initial operation.

Check Automatic Lubrication Systems Daily

If your hydraulic breaker features an automatic lubrication system, perform daily inspections. Verify that the grease reservoir is full, grease lines and fittings are clear, the pump functions properly, and the lubrication frequency settings align with your workload.

Why? Automatic systems can fail silently due to clogs, airlocks, or mechanical faults. Operating a hydraulic hammer without grease causes severe damage. Daily checks help detect issues early and avoid expensive downtime.

Hydraulic Breaker Grease Selection and Important Considerations

Choosing the right grease is as important as the correct lubrication frequency. Here are practical grease selection suggestions to help you better protect your hydraulic breaker:

Choose Grease with Excellent High-Temperature Performance

Hydraulic breakers generate significant heat in the tool sleeve and impact areas during operation. Select grease with a dropping point above 250℃ to ensure it does not melt or break down under high load and high temperature, maintaining a stable lubricating film to prevent direct metal contact and wear.

Choose Grease with Strong Waterproof Properties

Construction sites often involve damp, dusty, and muddy conditions. Grease with excellent water washout resistance (high NLGI grade and washout resistance) prevents lubricant from being washed away by rain or mud, ensuring long-lasting and stable lubrication.

Prefer Lithium Complex or Calcium Complex Grease

These greases offer excellent mechanical stability, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection, making them especially suitable for hydraulic breakers, which experience intense impact. They maintain viscosity longer, reduce grease degradation, and protect metal components from rust and wear.

Avoid General-Purpose or Automotive Grease

Ordinary greases usually lack additives designed for hydraulic breaker conditions. Using such grease can lead to premature lubricant failure, increased friction, and accelerated equipment wear. Do not replace manufacturer-recommended grease with cheaper alternatives.

Pay Attention to NLGI Grade

Most hydraulic breakers use NLGI grade 2 grease, which is thick enough to stay on friction surfaces but fluid enough to lubricate under impact vibration. Always refer to your equipment manual for the exact grade.

Keep Clean During Greasing

Use clean grease guns to prevent contamination. Dirt or water mixed into grease can cause wear and corrosion of internal parts.

Follow Manufacturer Recommendations and Replace Grease Regularly

Always consult the equipment manual for recommended grease types and replacement intervals. When changing grease brands or types, thoroughly clean out the old grease to prevent chemical reactions or performance degradation caused by mixing different greases.

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How Do You Choose the Right Grease for Your Hydraulic Breaker?

Different hydraulic breakers vary in internal structure, impact frequency, and load, requiring grease with different temperature resistance, viscosity, and adhesion. Manufacturers suggest specific grease types or brands based on materials, seal types, and operating environments to ensure optimal performance. Some breakers designed for hot, dusty, or wet conditions need greases with special heat resistance or waterproofing. High-end models with automatic lubrication systems require grease with specific fluidity and particle sizes. Always strictly follow the user manual or manufacturer’s advice when selecting grease. Contact technical support if needed to avoid premature wear or equipment failure due to grease mismatch.

Proper hydraulic breaker lubrication is essential to maintain performance and extend equipment life. Grease your breaker every 2 hours during normal use and every hour under heavy-duty conditions. Always grease before startup, and if your breaker has an automatic lubrication system, inspect it daily. Following these best hydraulic breaker greasing practices will reduce wear, minimize downtime, lower repair costs, and maximize the return on your equipment investment.

Beilite Automatic Lubrication System

Series 1: Mechanical Automatic Lubrication System

Product Advantages:

- Dispenses a fixed amount of lubricant with adjustable output based on actual working conditions.

- The grease reservoir can be refilled repeatedly, reducing operating costs.

Drive Method:

- Activated by the breaker’s vertical vibration, which pushes the grease pump to dispense grease.

Components:

- Automatic lubrication device, protective cover, hex screws, grease tube.

Series 2: Hydraulic Automatic Lubrication System

Product Advantages:

- One-time replacement of the grease bottle makes maintenance easier; the amount of grease output can be adjusted according to working conditions.

- Grease is injected once per breaker cycle, better meeting actual needs.

Drive Method:

- Changes in hydraulic pressure in the breaker’s hydraulic system trigger the grease pump.

Components:

- Automatic lubrication device, protective cover, hex screws, grease tube, hydraulic pipe.

Contact Us for More Details about Hydraulic Automatic Lubrication System

Series 3: Pipeline Automatic Lubrication System

Product Advantages:

- An electrically controlled valve enables precise and timed lubrication.

- The large grease reservoir allows the system to operate for hundreds of hours after each refill.

- Grease is delivered through pipelines extended from the excavator arm to the breaker, suitable for various working scenarios.

Drive Method:

- An electromagnetic pump drives the delivery of grease.

Components:

- Automatic lubrication device, grease tube.

Contact Us for More Details about Pipeline Automatic Lubrication System

Note: These automatic lubrication systems are optional features available upon request. Please consult with Beilite representatives to determine the best solution for your specific model and working environment.

To learn more about integrating the automatic lubrication system into your Beilite breaker, get in touch with our team today.

About BEILITE — Your Professional Hydraulic Breaker Manufacturer

Founded in 2002, BEILITE Machinery Co., Ltd. is specialized in the research & development, manufacturing, and service of high-end hydraulic breakers as a Chinese National High-Tech Enterprise. Guided by the philosophy “Quality Changes the Future,” BEILITE has achieved rapid growth through continuous innovation and intelligent manufacturing.

BEILITE has pioneered multiple industry milestones, including the development of China’s first heavy-duty and underwater hydraulic breakers. With hundreds of patented technologies and certifications in quality, environment, occupational health, and EU, CE & TÜV standards, BEILITE participated in drafting the national standard GB/T32799-2016 for hydraulic breakers in 2015. BEILITE is also a member of European Demolition Association and Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

Its product portfolio includes two core brands, BLT and BLTB, offering Sound-Suppressed, Top-Mounted, Side-Mounted, Backhoe Loader, and Skid Steer Loader series, ranging from BLT-40 to BLT-280, suitable for various excavators and working environments. Known for strong impact power, steady working performance, long service life, low maintenance cost and high residual value, BEILITE products are ideal for mining, demolition, tunneling, underwater, high-altitude, high temperature, extreme cold weather working site, ect. In 2021, the Beilite BLTB-200 hydraulic breaker boarded the research icebreaker Xuelong 2 and set sail across the ocean to China’s Great Wall Station in Antarctica for a scientific expedition.

As the first Chinese hydraulic breaker brand with independent IP to enter Europe, BEILITE has expanded to over 100 countries, including the U.S., Germany, UK, Russia, Japan, and India. With the service principle of “quality first, service foremost”, BEILITE offers a full-cycle support system - pre-sales to after-sales, backed by a complete China service network and developing overseas outlets.

BEILITE is committed to integrity, innovation, and global leadership in the hydraulic breaker industry - delivering world-class products, trustworthy service and maximum value to customers worldwide.

Contact BEILITE today to learn more about our hydraulic breaker products and maintenance solutions. Let us help you maximize your hydraulic hammer’s performance and project success.