What is the arm of a hydraulic excavator?

Release Time :

2025-01-22

The three main parts of an excavator arm – the boom, stick and bucket – work together to complete tasks efficiently. Each part is made up of a series of smaller parts.

Boom

The boom of an excavator is mounted directly to and articulated on the chassis of the excavator. The boom provides height to the excavator. It is equipped with hydraulic cylinders, pins and bushings that allow it to pivot, allowing the arm to move vertically.

The hydraulic cylinder of the boom uses hydraulic power to extend and retract the boom, helping to adjust its height and reach based on the operator's input. Pins and bushings connect the boom to the stick and chassis, helping to reduce friction during the movement of the boom.

Poke

The stick, sometimes called a bucket, extends from the boom and is connected to the boom by pins and bushings, allowing it to rotate. Like the boom, the stick is driven by hydraulic cylinders that control its movement.

The bucket is directly connected to the bucket or other attachment of the excavator. Therefore, the bucket is crucial in determining the level of precision of the excavator in tasks such as digging and handling materials.

Bucket

The bucket of an excavator is mounted on the end of the bucket. Buckets come in a variety of sizes and designs. Some buckets, such as those used to handle mulch, are wide and deep. Other buckets, such as trenching buckets, are narrower and have teeth for digging into the ground.

While buckets are the most common type of attachment for excavators, they are just one of many types of attachments that can be mounted on the end of a bucket. Other common attachments used with excavators include rakes and hydraulic breakers.

Hydraulic Systems

The boom of an excavator relies on a system of hydraulic components to drive the movement of the boom, stick, and bucket. The system uses hydraulic cylinders and pumps to convert the pneumatic energy of hydraulic fluid into mechanical force.

Most excavators are equipped with multiple hydraulic cylinders. Typically, there are two hydraulic cylinders mounted on the boom, one on the stick and one on the bucket. However, this arrangement can vary depending on the size and type of excavator.

Replacing Excavator Parts

Excavators are very versatile, and many have the flexibility to swap out the stick or bucket for other attachments or custom components.

For example, the reach of an excavator can sometimes be increased by equipping it with a longer stick, which allows for deeper digging and a wider working range. However, despite the limited working range, shorter sticks are generally more powerful.

Buckets often replace other hydraulic attachments such as grapples, ripper, thumbs, and hammers.

Maintenance of Excavator Arms

An excavator's arm is central to its functionality. If any part of the arm stops working, the entire excavator may need to be shut down for repairs.

Here are some of the most common troubleshooting issues associated with excavator arms:

Hydraulic leaks: Leaks can occur in the hoses, fittings, or seals of an excavator's hydraulic cylinders. These hydraulic leaks can cause a loss of pressure and reduced power.

Wear: Because the components of an excavator arm, such as pins, bushings, and pivot points, are subject to a lot of stress during operation, they are susceptible to wear.

Cracked or damaged welds: Because an excavator's arm is subject to a lot of impact during operation, the welds that hold the arm components together may crack or break.

Cylinder problems: Problems such as leaking cylinders, damaged cylinder seals, or bent rods can hinder the operation of the arm.

To keep the excavator arm in good working condition, it is important to check the arm's components frequently. Components such as bucket teeth, cutting edges, wear plates, pins, bushings, and hydraulic systems should be checked regularly.

While operators should make it a habit to check the excavator arm components at least once a week, daily inspections may be necessary in harsh operating environments.

In addition to regular inspections, it is also important to frequently lubricate the various parts of the arm. Pins, bushings, and pivot points all require regular and adequate lubrication to limit wear.

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