3.  Use the correct oil.

The type and condition of your lubrication oil is critical to successful operation of your cone crusher. Crushing with worn out oil or oil of the wrong specification can significantly reduce crusher life. Your crusher is designed to work with the lube oil in the range of 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) to 125 degrees F (51 degrees C). The maximum oil temperature is controlled by a sensor switch at the reservoir return line. If your crusher is being used regularly in extreme heat (plus 100 degrees F) or cold temperatures (minus 10 degrees F) and it is hard to maintain crusher oil in the correct operating range, it may be helpful to switch to synthetic oil.

4.  Inspect the main frame.

Inspect the main frame bore for nicks, burrs, scoring, or other damage. Attempt to remove any imperfections with a file or emery cloth. Use a micrometer to measure the bore at the top, bottom, and center. At each position, check the dimension at two places 90 degrees apart. The average of all six measurements must fall within an acceptable range. If high spots cannot be filed down to an acceptable range, the bore will need to be re-machined into tolerance. Check the bore carefully after re-machining for burrs, particularly at the keyways and grooves. A main frame bore that is worn outside the tolerance limits will need to have the worn spots welded up and the complete bore re-machined to tolerance.

5.  Check your alarms daily.

If electrical changes are made or programs are altered in automated systems, verify that all alarms and interlocks still function properly. Don’t be afraid to replace switches or timers that appear damaged or are in poor condition. This is much cheaper than the completion of a major overhaul. Never disable or alter any alarms or interlocks!

6.  Get to know your machine and react accordingly.

Record vital machine information such as motor amps and oil pressure in a variety of operating conditions. This will allow you to identify trends and will also help to detect problems before they cause costly damage or downtime.

“Bottom line, don’t take any shortcuts,” Thistle says. “It’s only going to come back and cost you more down the road.”

Carol Wasson is a veteran freelance writer for the aggregates and construction equipment industries. Information for this article was provided by Telsmith, Inc.