Page 1 of 1

Excavator rotary joint installation knowledge: the key link to ensure the efficient operation of equipment

Posted: Mar 26th, '25, 23:16
by DIG-DOG
In the complex structure of the excavator, the rotary joint is the core hub, which is responsible for the stable transmission of key elements such as hydraulic oil, lubricating oil and signals between the upper rotary table of the excavator and the lower chassis. Its installation quality has a decisive impact on the overall performance, operation stability and service life of the excavator. Next, we will in-depth analyze the installation knowledge of excavator rotary joint, cleverly interspersed such as "comprehensive preparation points before the installation of excavator rotary joint" and "detailed explanation of the precise installation steps of excavator rotary joint".

First, fine preparation before installation
(A) Strict inspection of rotary joints
Before starting the installation, a careful inspection of the rotary joint is the first task. Carefully examine the appearance of the joint body, check whether there are cracks, sand holes and other defects, especially the welding part, the weld must be firm and uniform, and avoid hidden dangers such as virtual welding and de-welding, which is "the top priority of the appearance inspection before the installation of the rotary joint of the excavator". Focus on the state of the seal, the seal lip should be smooth, no scratches, with good elasticity. After all, once the seal is faulty, the risk of hydraulic oil leakage after installation will greatly increase, seriously interfering with the normal operation of the excavator. At the same time, be sure to carefully check whether the rotary joint model is fully matched with the excavator, different types of excavators for the rotary joint specifications, parameter requirements vary, only accurate matching, in order to ensure the smooth installation and stable operation of the equipment.

(2) Proper preparation of adaptation tools
The installation of rotary joints is inseparable from the assistance of a series of professional tools. The suitable wrench is indispensable, which is used to accurately remove and tighten the joint connection bolts, and operate in strict accordance with the specified torque to ensure a stable connection. Special sealing installation tools, such as sealing guide sleeves, can play a key role in installing seals, effectively avoiding scratches or distortion of seals, and significantly improving the sealing effect, which fully highlights the "key significance of preparing excavator rotary joint installation tools". In addition, cleaning tools such as brushes and cleaning agents are also necessary. Before installation, deep clean the installation site of the rotary joint and related pipes to thoroughly remove oil and impurities and prevent contaminants from mixing with the system, laying a solid foundation for stable operation.

(3) Careful cleaning of the work site
Select a clean, open, and flat area for the rotary joint installation. Comprehensively clean up the debris and obstacles in the site, reserve enough operating space to facilitate the operator to flexibly display their skills, and avoid the operation error caused by the cramped site or debris obstruction. At the same time, ensure that the environment around the site is dry to prevent rain and humid air from negatively affecting the installation process, especially the installation of humidity sensitive components such as seals.

2. Precise operation in installation
(A) Accurate calibration of the installation position
When hoisting the rotary joint to the installation position, be sure to use accurate measuring tools, such as levels, calipers, etc., to strictly calibrate the installation position. Ensure that the shaft of the rotary joint is accurately aligned with the shaft of the corresponding connection part of the excavator, and the deviation is controlled within a very small range. Once the axis deviation is too large, severe vibration and additional wear will occur during operation, greatly shortening the service life of the rotary joint and related parts, which is "the core point of accurate calibration of the installation position of the rotary joint of the excavator". During the alignment process, accurate alignment can be achieved step by step by fine-tuning the support device or using the positioning pin to temporarily fix.

(2) Standard fastening of connection bolts
Use a torque wrench to tighten the connecting bolts of the rotary joint according to the specified tightening torque. During the fastening process, tighten the bolts in opposite positions first, and then gradually tighten other bolts to ensure that all bolts are evenly stressed to prevent joint deformation or seal failure due to excessive force. In the tightening process, pay close attention to the tightening degree of the bolt to avoid too tight or too loose. Too tight may cause the bolt to stretch and deform or even break, and too loose will loosen the connection, causing leakage or component displacement, which fully demonstrates the "importance of standard fastening of the excavator rotary joint connection bolts".

(3) Careful installation of seals
Installing seals is a key part of the installation process. First, evenly apply an appropriate amount of lubricating oil in the seal and the mounting groove to reduce the installation resistance and enhance the sealing effect. Use the seal guide sleeve to slowly press the seal into the mounting slot, keeping an eye on the state of the seal during the process to ensure that it is smoothly inserted into the slot without distortion. If the seal is improperly installed, skewness, distortion, etc., the risk of hydraulic oil leakage will rise sharply, seriously affecting the normal work of the excavator, which reflects the "necessity of careful installation of the excavator rotary joint seal". After the installation is complete, check whether the edge of the seal is closely fitted to the installation slot and whether there are gaps or bumps.

Third, comprehensive inspection and debugging after installation
(1) Careful review of appearance and connection parts
After installation, first of all, the appearance and connection parts of the rotary joint are carefully reviewed. Check whether the surface of the joint body is damaged or deformed, whether the connection bolts are fastened in place, and whether there is any sign of loosening. Check whether there are traces of hydraulic oil seepage around the seal. If leakage is found, it is necessary to immediately investigate the cause and repair it, which is "the key content of inspection of the appearance and connection parts after the installation of the rotary joint of the excavator". At the same time, carefully check whether the rotary joint is firmly connected to the surrounding pipes and components, and whether the direction is reasonable to ensure that there is no interference and extrusion.

(2) Pressure test of hydraulic system
Start the excavator hydraulic system, gradually increase the system pressure, and carry out pressure test on the rotary joint. Closely observe the sealing performance of each sealing part of the rotary joint under different pressures to check whether there is leakage. At the same time, the pressure fluctuation of the hydraulic system is monitored. If the pressure fluctuation is abnormal, it may mean that there is blockage or other faults inside the rotary joint, which needs to be stopped in time for investigation, which fully highlights the importance of "the pressure test of the hydraulic system after the installation of the rotary joint of the excavator". During the test, the pressure rise should be slow and steady to avoid damage to the rotary joint caused by instantaneous high pressure impact.

(3) Operation debugging and performance evaluation
After the completion of the appearance inspection and pressure test, the operation of the rotary joint is adjusted. Start the excavator, let the upper turntable perform 360-degree rotation operation, and observe whether the rotation process is smooth and smooth, and whether there is no stuck, abnormal noise or vibration. Feel the hand feel and evaluate the flexibility and response speed of the rotary joint at different turning speeds. If an anomaly is found in the operation process, the operation should be stopped immediately and the root cause of the problem should be thoroughly investigated, which may involve many factors such as installation accuracy, component wear, poor lubrication, etc., which reflects the "necessity of operation debugging and performance evaluation of the excavator rotary joint after installation". Through comprehensive debugging and evaluation, the installation quality of the rotary joint is ensured to meet the daily operation requirements of the excavator.