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HKM

Breaker Troubleshooting Guide

Hoses Vibrating and Jumping

Some vibration while the breaker runs is natural; this is a percussive machine. The problem is a clear increase in vibration and hoses that begin to jump.

← All symptoms

First checks on site

  1. 1Establish when the vibration started: has it always been like this, or did it increase recently? Vibration that increased later points to a mechanical change.
  2. 2Check the hose routing and the securing clamps. A long unsecured hose will jump excessively even on a healthy circuit.
  3. 3Check whether blank firing is happening: hose vibration increases noticeably during blank firing.

Causes and how to tell them apart

1.Accumulator pressure has dropped or the membrane is damaged

Is this the one?
Vibration is continuous and rhythmic while the breaker runs; the circuit is normal when the breaker is off. It usually builds up over time.
How to check
Have the accumulator pressure and condition checked by a service technician. The correct value varies by model.
What to do
Have the accumulator recharged to procedure or replaced. The accumulator is the component that absorbs pressure pulsation; when it stops working, the pulsation reaches the hoses.
Related part →

2.Hose clamping and routing

Is this the one?
Vibration concentrates in one particular hose whose free length is long or whose clamp has broken away.
How to check
Review the clamps and the routing of the hose along the boom.
What to do
Clamp it so the free length is reduced. This is the most common and cheapest cause of excessive jumping to fix, and it directly extends hose life.

3.Blank firing

Is this the one?
Vibration is not continuous but increases at the moment the material breaks and the tool strikes into air.
How to check
Watch whether the operator releases the control when the material breaks.
What to do
Eliminate blank firing. Here vibration is not a fault but an indicator of poor working technique.

4.Hose inner layer delamination

Is this the one?
The hose looks sound from outside but there is pulsation and heating in the circuit; typically on hoses that have reached the end of their life.
How to check
Assess hose age and any signs of internal restriction (heating, flow drop).
What to do
Renew the hose. Inner layer delamination is invisible from outside and produces both vibration and heating.

5.Air entering on the suction side (cavitation)

Is this the one?
Vibration comes with a high pitched noise from the pump and foaming in the oil tank.
How to check
Check the oil level and the suction line connections.
What to do
Top up the oil level and fix the loose connection on the suction line. Cavitation damages the whole circuit and needs prompt attention.

When to stop

  • If there is a high pitched noise from the pump and foam in the tank, stop work; cavitation will finish the pump quickly.
  • Do not try to hold or tie a jumping hose while the machine is running.
  • Do not normalise vibration: vibration that increased later is always the result of a change.

Frequently asked

Is vibration in breaker hoses normal?

Some vibration is normal, because a breaker is a percussive machine and creates pressure pulsation in the circuit. What is abnormal is a clear increase in vibration, hoses that jump, or a pulsation that was not there before.

What does the accumulator do, and what happens if it fails?

The accumulator absorbs the pressure pulsation created by every blow of the breaker. When it loses pressure or its membrane is damaged, that pulsation passes directly to the hoses and the circuit; vibration increases and hose and fitting life shortens.

How much does vibration affect the hoses?

Directly. Fatigue builds up at the connection points of a hose that jumps constantly, and leakage starts at the base of the fitting. Correcting the clamping is often the cheapest and most effective intervention.

Related symptoms

Breaker Blank Firing

Striking into air after the material has broken — the fastest way to wear a breaker out.

Hydraulic Breaker Not Striking

The breaker does not run at all, the tool does not move, or it strikes only occasionally.

Send us the symptom and your machine model; our service team will walk through the field steps with you. Brand does not matter — we supply parts and service support for all breaker makes and models.

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