Are "punta" and "puntero" the same thing?

In everyday use they usually mean the same part, the breaker tool. Some catalogues keep "puntero" for the moil point and call the flat tool "cincel". When ordering, stating the tool type and diameter separately avoids confusion.

Is there a difference between "buje" and "casquillo"?

No, both mean the breaker bushing. "Buje" is the usual word in Mexico and is also used elsewhere in the region; "casquillo" is the term in Spain. To tell the lower bushing from the upper one, state where the part sits as well.

Are "kit de sellos" and "kit de retenes" the same?

Yes, both are the breaker seal kit. "Kit de sellos" is used more in Latin America, "kit de retenes" or "kit de juntas" in Spain. In Colombia "empaques" is also heard.

Which breaker parts are changed most often?

The tool, bushings, retaining pins and seal kit are wear parts and are changed several times over the breaker’s life. Internal parts such as the piston, cylinder and valve last much longer with proper maintenance; when they need changing, it is usually the result of another part failing.

What is the nitrogen section called in Spanish?

It is the "cámara de nitrógeno" or "cámara de gas"; the upper body that holds it is the "cabeza trasera" or "cuerpo superior". Nitrogen charging is searched as "carga de nitrógeno".

Hydraulic Breaker Parts and Their Spanish Names

Short answer

The main parts of a hydraulic breaker are the tool, the bushings that keep it on axis, the pins that retain it, the piston that strikes, the cylinder it runs in, the valve that drives the cycle, the accumulator with its diaphragm, the back head that holds the nitrogen chamber, the tie rods that hold the body together, the seal kit, the outer housing and the hoses. Anyone working with Latin America needs to know that most of these have more than one Spanish name: in Mexico a spare part is a "refacción" and a bushing a "buje", while in Spain the same things are a "repuesto" and a "casquillo". This guide sets out what each part does and the names it goes by in the region.

Editor: Ahmet AkkayaPublished: 27 October 2026

How to read the names

Where we tie a name to a country, that name appears in searches or on supplier pages in that country. Where we say a name is "also used", it circulates in the region but we do not have enough evidence to tie it to a particular country. Names specific to Spain are marked separately; avoiding them when writing to a Latin American customer reduces misunderstandings.

We explained how a breaker works in the what is a hydraulic breaker guide; this one focuses on what the parts are called. When ordering, no name replaces the code, the photo and the dimension; we covered that in the guide to ordering spare parts.

The breaker itself and spare parts

In all four countries the most common name is "martillo hidráulico". "Rompedor" is also frequent across the region. In Colombia "martillo demoledor" is common, but there it also describes electric hand-held breakers, so used alone it can cause confusion. "Martillo picador" is also used in the region.

Spare parts are "refacciones" in Mexico and "repuestos" in Chile, Peru and Colombia; in Colombia "partes" is also used. Carriers differ as well: the backhoe loader is a "retroexcavadora" across the region, shortened to "retro" in Mexico and Colombia, and the skid steer is a "minicargador".

Lower section: where the tool works

Tool (punta, puntero, pica, cincel): the part that passes the blow into the material. In all four countries "punta" and "puntero" are used; in Mexico "pica" is heard too. "Cincel" is mostly kept for the flat chisel tool. The Spanish "útil" is hardly understood in Latin America. We covered tool types in the tool types guide.
Bushings (buje; in Spain casquillo): the rings that keep the tool on axis and support it, split into lower and upper bushings. "Buje" is common in Mexico, and the same name is also used in other countries of the region. We covered measuring them in the bushings guide.
Retaining pins (pasadores): they hold the tool in its seat but do not transmit the blow. In Spanish they are a "pasador" or "pasador de retención", and the locking part next to them is a "seguro". Details in the retainer set guide.
Front head (cuerpo inferior): the section that houses the tool and bushings; it is the first place to take side load.

Middle section: where the blow is produced

Piston (pistón): the part that turns hydraulic energy into impact and strikes the tool shank. Its name is the same everywhere in the region.
Cylinder (cilindro): the body the piston moves in. Once its surface is damaged, internal leakage begins; it is assessed together with the piston. "Cuerpo central" is also used.
Valve (válvula): it builds the blow cycle by switching the direction of the oil. It is also called "válvula de mando", "válvula de distribución" or "válvula de control". We explained how it works in the valve guide.
Seal kit (kit de sellos): the set of seals and O-rings that keeps the breaker tight. In all four countries "kit de sellos" is the usual name; in Colombia "empaques" is also used. In Spain it is a "kit de retenes" or "kit de juntas".
Tie rods (tirantes, pernos pasantes): the long bolts that hold the body sections together. We use "tirante" on this site; "perno pasante" is also used.

Upper section: the energy of the blow

Back head and nitrogen chamber (cabeza trasera, cámara de nitrógeno): it holds the nitrogen compressed on the piston’s return; the nitrogen drives the piston down like a spring. "Cuerpo superior" and "cámara de gas" are also used. Nitrogen charging is searched as "carga de nitrógeno" in the region.
Accumulator and diaphragm (acumulador, membrana): the accumulator absorbs the pressure pulse of each blow, and the diaphragm inside it separates nitrogen from oil. The diaphragm is called "membrana" or "diafragma". Not every breaker design has an accumulator. Details in the diaphragm and accumulator guide.

Outside: housing and hoses

Housing (carcasa, caja): the outer shell around the body; on silenced types it also provides sound insulation. "Carcasa" is the most common name; "caja" is also used.
Hoses (mangueras): they connect the breaker to the machine’s hydraulic line. In Latin America the word is "manguera"; the Spanish "latiguillo" is rarely used in the region.

One name can mean two things

In some catalogues "puntero" means only the moil point, in others any tool. In Colombia "martillo demoledor" can mean either the breaker or a hand tool. When an enquiry arrives with such a name, clarify it by asking for the tool type and diameter or the carrier. The English, Turkish and Spanish names of the terms are together in the glossary.

Quick list: English name and Spanish equivalents

Tool: punta, puntero; in Mexico also pica. Chisel tool: cincel. Spain: útil.
Bushing: buje. Spain: casquillo.
Retaining pin: pasador, pasador de retención; lock: seguro.
Piston: pistón. Cylinder: cilindro.
Valve: válvula, válvula de mando.
Seal kit: kit de sellos; in Colombia also empaques. Spain: kit de retenes, kit de juntas.
Tie rod: tirante, perno pasante.
Back head and nitrogen chamber: cabeza trasera, cuerpo superior, cámara de nitrógeno.
Accumulator and diaphragm: acumulador, membrana, diafragma.
Housing: carcasa, caja. Hose: manguera. Spain: latiguillo.
Spare parts: refacciones in Mexico, repuestos in the other countries.

Finding the part

You can see what each part does and which group it belongs to on the spare parts page, and the tool types on the tools page. To understand why a part failed, the damage chain guide is a good place to start.

Hydraulic breaker parts and their Spanish names in Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia