{"id":4227,"date":"2026-10-15T11:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T03:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/?p=4227"},"modified":"2026-10-15T10:27:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T02:27:29","slug":"why-does-a-top-hammer-drilling-rig-lose-hydraulic-pressure-causes-checks-and-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/news\/why-does-a-top-hammer-drilling-rig-lose-hydraulic-pressure-causes-checks-and-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does a Top Hammer Drilling Rig Lose Hydraulic Pressure? Causes, Checks, and Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Full<\/figure>\n

A top hammer drilling rig gradually loses hydraulic performance before it completely breaks down. A decrease in hydraulic performance is recognizable by slower feed, weak movement of the boom, unsteady drill rotation, delayed rod handling etc. This decrease in performance can occur after a drilling round and is then irreversibly fixed. In most cases several functions are affected by one hydraulic circuit and therefore it does not make sense to replace the pump too early. The pressure flow needs to be analyzed in the same order as the symptoms appeared. This will separate external from internal leaks, oil condition and oil temperature. After that the relevant hydraulic circuit has to be tested against the manufacturer\u2019s values. This way there is no need for routine analysis to turn into costly part changes.<\/p>\n

What Symptoms Suggest a Hydraulic Pressure Problem Rather Than a Drilling Problem?<\/h2>\n

Low penetration figures for a single operation are not always a sign of low hydraulic pressure. Penetration can be low due to tooling wear, hard material, \u00a0lack of a sufficient cooling flood or wrong feed set-ups. Low hydraulic pressure is when many of the functions slow at once or the problem changes with work load or temperature.<\/p>\n

Watch the Pattern Before Opening the Circuit<\/h3>\n

Watch the Pattern Before Opening the Circuit<\/h3>\n

A cold rig that performs optimally in the beginning, then no feed or rotation after an hour indicates a problem with internal leakage, oil condition or the pump efficiency. A weak function from the start indicates a problem along different lines and includes low oil level, suction restriction or a local valve.<\/p>\n

For a full hydraulic top hammer drilling rig<\/strong><\/a>, record whether the problem affects impact, rotation, feed, boom movement, travel, or rod handling.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Observed symptom<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

First area to investigate<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Several functions slow together<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Oil level, supply restriction, pump output<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

One cylinder lacks force<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Cylinder seals, local valve, internal leakage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Performance falls as oil heats<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Oil condition, cooling, internal leakage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Jerky or noisy movement<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Aeration, suction restriction, low oil level<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Oil temperature rises quickly<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Restriction, relief flow, cooling problem<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Note: Start readings here. Compare final readings to the manufacturer\u2019s test conditions for the specific test.<\/p>\n

\"Hydraulic<\/figure>\n

Which Hydraulic Faults Most Often Cause Pressure to Fall?<\/h2>\n

The hydraulic pump delivers flow. The pressure increases if the hydraulic circuit tries to resist this flow. Complaints about pressure are usually due to a lack of delivery by the pump, too much leakage, the relief valve opens too early or the actuator cannot hold the load.<\/p>\n

Check Simple Losses Before Condemning the Pump<\/h3>\n

Low tank level allows air into the system, blocked suction starves the pump. External hose leaks are usually visible but can hide from view internal leaks caused by worn cylinder seals, valve spools and hydraulic motors, which leak oil back to the tank without dropping a single drop.<\/p>\n

Also of relevance is the relief valve. The item can become contaminated, be the wrong configuration or suffer from seating problems to dump oil prior to the required pressure having been reached within the sump circuit. Pump wear can drop available flow once oil has warmed up.<\/p>\n

It is important to recognise that the repair will not get around a leaking cylinder or bypassing valve. Similarily, repeatedly manipulating the relief valve just masks the root cause of the problem.<\/p>\n

How Should a Maintenance Team Troubleshoot Low Hydraulic Pressure?<\/h2>\n

The transition from troubleshooting by eye to troubleshooting by measuring is what we want. Switching a number of controls at the same time makes a change hard to interpret and could create yet another problem.<\/p>\n

Use One Diagnostic Sequence Every Time<\/h3>\n

A practical field sequence is:<\/p>\n

Record the affected functions, oil temperature, operating time, and whether the fault appears under load.<\/p>\n

Inspect oil level and condition, hoses, fittings, and visible leakage.<\/p>\n

Check filters and the suction side for restriction or air entry.<\/p>\n

Bring the system to the specified test condition before measuring pressure.<\/p>\n

Test the affected circuit at the designated point.<\/p>\n

Isolate whether the loss is at the pump, relief\/control valve, or downstream actuator before replacing parts.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s imperative that you isolate, depressurize and test hydraulic work using the correct test equipment. Pinhole leaks can penetrate skin thereby badly injuring you. Never check a hose for leaks by hand.<\/p>\n

Stocking common filters, seals, hoses, etc. as part of a service kit or as individual consumables can save time but the main purpose of spare parts is to aid in diagnosis not to replace parts.<\/p>\n

Why Do Heat and Contamination Cause Intermittent Pressure Loss?<\/h2>\n

Intermittent faults are challenging as a cold-start check may pass but, as the machine is operated, the hydraulic oil behavior with temperature means that worn clearances may leak internally more as the oil warms up and thins.<\/p>\n

Follow Pressure and Temperature Together<\/h3>\n

The buildup of heat in a system can be due to a variety of reasons including sustained load, restricted flow, poor cooling, and lubricating oil repeatedly passing through a relief valve. As the system temperature increases, worn parts can develop increased internal leakage. This problem typically manifests itself as normal startup operation followed by decreased relief valve response and partial return to normal after the system has cooled.<\/p>\n

Contamination causes further failure events. Fine dust can damage surfaces of pumps and valves, whereas larger particles can prevent a valve from seating. The appearance of the oil, filter change history, clean condition of the reservoir and recent replacement of components have to be clarified in an investigation.<\/p>\n

How Can Contractors Prevent Hydraulic Pressure Problems From Returning?<\/h2>\n

The recommended change of oil alone is not prevention. Clean servicing and regular examination and written records, allow faults to be tracked from the start.<\/p>\n

Track Changes Instead of Waiting for Failure<\/h3>\n

Maintain a baseline of warm-up behavior, oil temperature, pressure at listed test points, and the operating speed of critical hydraulic functions. Several shifts of change can be more valuable than one reading at failure. Check hoses for abrasion, cracking, loose fittings, damage reinforcement and improper routing. Replace filters when the service instructions demand it and check for unusual contamination. When the circuit is vented,\u00a0all parts, fill equipment, caps and tools should be clean.<\/p>\n

As technical buyers we should also ask at the purchase stage where the hydraulic test points are located, which alarms are included, what sort of service information is supplied and how routine parts are identified. Good diagnostic access can mean the difference between \u201cthe rig feels weak\u201d and a verified repair being carried out.<\/p>\n

\"Why<\/figure>\n

Need Help Matching a Full Hydraulic Top Hammer Rig to Your Operating Conditions?<\/h2>\n

Even when hydraulic reliability is not the deciding criterion, the service access as well as the possibilities for diagnosis are of interest besides the hole diameter. \u0628\u0643\u064a\u0646 \u0645\u062a\u062c\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0641\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0622\u0644\u0627\u062a \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0645\u0639\u062f\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u062f\u0648\u062f\u0629<\/strong><\/a> offers the TDS-TH500 Hydraulic Top Hammer Drilling Rig<\/strong><\/a> for drilling holes of 60\u201390 mm in diameter as well as the TDS-TH700 Hydraulic Top Hammer Drilling Rig<\/strong><\/a> for holes with diameters of 76\u2013115 mm. The pages for these models describe the Danfoss hydraulic pumps, the hydraulic swing adjustment, the PLC-based control as well as the alarm display. Furthermore, the oil-cylinder-driven push beams as well as the hydraulic rock drills with pressure-controlled propulsion are described. These are points of interest when comparing the serviceability, the hydraulic control as well as the fault diagnosis of drilling rigs used in quarries as well as in the construction industry.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Hydraulic pressure drops are just as much a system problem as a pump problem. The best indicators are what is not working, does the symptom vary with temperature, and where it is losing pressure. A fixed program of visual checks on oil supply, filtration, leaks, valves, test pressure, and actuator condition reduces plant shutdown by preventing the wrong part being replaced. Good hydraulic maintenance, hose and filter checks, trend records, and correct test procedures can prevent a slight performance variation causing plant shutdown.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n

1. Can a Top Hammer Rig Lose Hydraulic Pressure Only After Warming Up?<\/h3>\n

Yes. Low oil viscosity, internal leakage, cooling problems and worn parts can all cause pressure loss due to temperature. Compare recorded pressure and oil temperature to manufacturer\u2019s test data for the part.<\/p>\n

2. Does Weak Feed Always Mean the Hydraulic Pump Is Failing?<\/h3>\n

No. Weak feed can be due to a number of causes including local blockage by a valve, cylinder leakage, restriction, incorrect setting of the feed function or other causes within the circuit. Also check other hydraulic functions for weakness before suspecting the pump.<\/p>\n

3. Why Can a Clogged Hydraulic Filter Affect Drilling Performance?<\/h3>\n

Restrictions can limit the amount of oil available to operate in a circuit or cause pump starvation. The symptoms of a restriction may not necessarily be a complete shutdown of a component but rather slow motion, increased noise or poor hydraulic response.<\/p>\n

4. Should Operators Increase the Relief-Valve Setting When Pressure Is Low?<\/h3>\n

Low is not fixed by simply increasing the service setting. Low pressure can have a number of different causes, and increasing service setting can put additional stress on items such as hoses, seals, pumps and actuators. The cause must first be found and isolated before the service setting is increased.<\/p>\n

5. Which Maintenance Records Help Most During Troubleshooting?<\/h3>\n

Record oil and filter changes, operating hours, hose or component replacements, unusual high temperatures, alarms and pressure reading values under test. Gradual wear-off can be distinguished from sudden faults by means of these records.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn why top hammer drilling rigs lose hydraulic pressure, how to diagnose the cause, and how to prevent repeat failures.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4227"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4231,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4227\/revisions\/4231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedrillstore.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}