WorldWide Drilling Resource

Maintaining a Horizontal Directional Drill with High Operating Hours Adapted from Information by Vermeer’s Navigator Nation Many of us rely on automobiles to get from point A to point B. Our cars require regular oil changes, new air filters, and tire rotations to keep them running efficiently and reliably. When cars hit 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles, we take them to the local auto service center and rely on a trained technician to perform manufacturer-recommended maintenance. While servicing our cars can be inconvenient at times, we do it because we know routine maintenance is key to extending its usable life. Your horizontal directional drill (HDD) deserves the same treatment. Generally, a small- to medium-size HDD can run several thousand hours if maintained properly. Bob Evans, customer support manager at Vermeer, recommends operators follow the instructions and procedures provided in the drill’s maintenance manual, such as performing basic maintenance on their drill rigs every day. Typically, this includes an equipment walk around, checking oil levels, greasing the machine, and tightening tracks. “The older a machine gets - whether it’s measured in operating hours or years - the more important it becomes to regularly check wear parts,” said Evans. “For the first few hundred hours, you’re checking oil and maintaining tracks. When you hit that first 500-hour mark, it’s time to check the engine belts and air filters. The more hours a machine acquires, the more the main- tenance needs change. You essentially need to maintain more major components of the machine.” Horizontal directional drills have some common wear parts you should pay attention to and replace at the first sign of wear to help prevent equipment and tooling damage. e Tooling subsavers - Tooling subsavers touch the drill rod at least twice - when drilling out and when pulling the rod back. If there’s a worn subsaver, you can damage the box end. If the box end is damaged, it can also harm the pin nose of the new rod. e Vise dies - Vise dies need to be cleaned daily. First they should be washed out. Then, take a quick wire brush over them to maintain a good tooth profile, which prevents slipping during rod makeups and breakdowns. If you don’t properly make up the drill rod, and have a good clamp on the vises, you could be under-torqued. Then, when the rod goes into the ground, a sit- uation called over-torquing occurs. When the rod is pulled back out of the ground, you can no longer break it apart properly. e Gearbox rollers - If your machine has gearbox rollers, it’s important to keep them greased. If the gearbox roller isn’t properly cared for, it can break off and fall down into the rack and pinion. Then, the gearbox can run it over the roller and damage the rack and pinion. “It’s really a domino affect,” said Evans. “Replacing those wear items is key to the longevity of the machine.” Sometimes it’s best to seek profes- sional service. Drills should be taken to the dealer’s service department for engine maintenance, especially when it is within the engine warranty period. When it’s time for the hydraulic oil in your machine to be changed, take the machine to a dealer. Make sure oil samples are taken to deter- mine if components are wearing and if filters are doing their job. “Properly maintained air filters, engine filters, and hydraulic filters are important to the longevity of the drill,” said Evans. “Drills have a lot of longevity if they’re maintained well. And if they’re maintained well, they can run and perform well.”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orldWide Drilling Resource ®