How to Determine the Cause of Pneumatic Roofbolters Faults
Jul 13, 2026| I. Initial Fault Category Identification Based on Operational Observations
1. Power-related issues: Slow drilling speed, insufficient torque. Prioritize faults related to the motor and air supply.
2. Outrigger-related issues: Outriggers failing to raise/lower slowly/weak thrust. Prioritize faults related to the cylinder and air circuit seals.
3. Water system-related issues: No water spray/water cannot be shut off. Prioritize faults related to the water valve and water circuit filter.
4. Abnormal noise issues: Abnormal noises during operation. Prioritize faults related to bearings, gearbox, and air circuit impurities.
II. System-by-System Troubleshooting
1. Air Supply System Troubleshooting: First, confirm that the air compressor pressure is between 0.4-0.63 MPa. Check for kinks and leaks in the air hoses. Use soapy water to check for leaks at each joint to eliminate faults related to insufficient air supply. 2. Motor Troubleshooting: Start the machine under no-load and listen to the operating sound. Intermittent exhaust sounds likely indicate worn motor blades. A sharp whistling sound suggests impurities in the air path are blocking the blades. A clicking metallic clanging sound indicates a damaged gearbox bearing.
3. Outrigger System Troubleshooting: Operate the outriggers. If there is no movement at all, first check the control valve status. If movement is sluggish, focus on checking for aging or damaged cylinder seals and blocked exhaust ports.
4. Water System Troubleshooting: Flow water from the water source towards the drilling rig section by section. Check if the inlet filter is blocked and if the water valve core is stuck to quickly locate the water system fault.
III. Component Verification and Cause Identification
1. Replace suspected faulty components for testing. For example, if the fault disappears after replacing a new seal, the original damaged seal is confirmed as the root cause.
2. Compare with the equipment's daily maintenance records and recent maintenance practices to quickly identify faults caused by missed maintenance (such as motor dry running due to insufficient lubrication in the lubricator).
