• Change from oil to grease see our Procedures Page to ensure you do not damage equipment in the change-over.
  • Change from grease to oil see our Procedures Page to ensure you do not damage equipment in the change-over
  • Check our Proper Use of Lubricator Page for proper installation of lubricator.
  • Air can flow in either direction through the Joy air line oiler and operate properly
  • Fill the lubricator with rock drill grease the same way you would fill with rock drill oil.
  • Use 000 grease when temperature is between -10°to +40°C...(-23° to +105°F).
  • One filling of P000 grease will supply lubrication for one normal drilling shift.

Procedure to change from grease to oil in Joy 5048912 Lubricator

  • Drain grease from lubricator. Check to be sure majority of grease is removed. Blow front end ports.
  • Fill lubricator with proper rock drill oil desingated for rock drills (see table).
  • Set nozzle at maximum flow setting (see features page) to begin...reduce later.
  • Blow hose, at partial pressure, until oil appears coming from end of the hose.
  • Field strip equipment and blow all grease out of the front end components.
  • Re-assemble the equipment, connect the hose.
  • Operate the equipment, checking critical areas to be sure there is no over-heating.
  • Check front chuck to see if oil is forming a ring on drill steel shank.
  • Reset nozzle to full flow if insufficient oil is reaching the equipment (see features page)
  • Check lubricator reservoir half way through first shift to ensure oil is flowing.
  • Check the lubricator at beginning of next shift to gauge your re-fill interval.

Application Temperature - Oil Grade Table

Application Temperature Grade of Oil
All pnematic drills underground -40° C to 0° C EP20 to EP50
Jackleg Stopers underground -5° C to +20° C EP100
Drifter Drills underground all drills surface +10 C to +30° C EP150
All pneumatic drills surface and underground +30° C EP220

PHQ recommends grades from EP20 up to EP50 rock drill oil when ambient temperature is between -40° and 0° C PHQ recommends EP100 as standard rock drill oil for hand held drills in most underground temperatures and applications. PHQ recommends EP150 rock drill oil at higher temperatures underground and for larger drifters underground. PHQ recommends EP150 as standard rock drill oil for use in all pneumatic drills in surface drilling applications. PHQ recommends grades from EP150 up to EP220 rock drill oil when ambient temperature exceeds 30° C

Drills damaged after being run on double zero (00) grease
Always use lubricant supplied by the major oil companies such as:
PETRO CANADA
ESSO
SHELL
TEXACO

THESE PARTS WERE TAKEN FROM TEN JOY SAL60M STOPER DRILLS STRIPPED DOWN FOR EXAMINATION AFTER RUNNING ON DOUBLE ZERO (00) GREASE. A LONG LUBRICATION PORT IN FRONT ENDS of all the drills was PLUGGED WITH GREASE. there WAS HARDENED GREASE IN MANY OF THE DEAD SPOTS WITHIN THE DRILLS. ALL DRILLS REQUIRED MAJOR REPAIRS

CHUCK DRIVER SCORED AND WORN FROM LACK OF LUBRICATION IN FRONT END

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CHUCK INSERT WORN FROM LACK OF LUBRICATION IN FRONT END OF DRILL

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CHUCK PREMATURELY WORN OUT FROM LACK OF Lubrication in FRONT END.

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BACKHEAD OF THIS DRILL WAS FILLED WITH HARDENED GREASE. NO Lubrication was getting to the front end of this piston

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Notice the difference in the amount of mist coming from the drill using grease as compared to the amount of mist coming from the drill using oil.

Drilling with Grease
Lubricant Consumption : 80ml/round
Airborne Particulate : 0.06mg

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Drilling with Oil
Lubricant Consumption : 325ml/round
Airborne Particulate : 0.80mg

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  • Vultrex EP000 lithium based Rock Drill Grease is available from Petro-Canada
  • Vultrex EP000 lithium based Rock Drill Grease in stock & available from PHQ
  • Available in cartons of 24 1/2 litre (400gram) easy-pour sight-line containers
  • Available in cartons of 12 1 litre (900gram) easy-pour sight-line container
  • AroxNM000 grease is available from Essso

Pro Con
Grease adheres to metal better than oil so a corrosive resistant coating remains on parts in drills that are not used for long periods or kept in storage underground. Grease which drips onto metal platforms
(e.g.: scissor lifts & alimak raise machines)
could produce slippery footing for operators.
Grease does not emulsify and will not wash out of drills, in instances where high water pressure causes a back-pressure and floods drills. Grease does not readily wash off drill operators hands, face or out of their clothing. Drillers may complain of persistent smell of grease.
Grease does not "mist" as finely as rock drill oil, therefore is not as likely to be airborne in exhaust air coming from the drill. It is self evident from photographs that this is true and the point was proved by: Independent testing at CANMET's Experimental Mine Grease does not travel up the hose as quickly as rock drill oil, so parts in the drills should be coated with grease before changing from rock drill oil to grease. This prevents lack of lubrication. (see procedures).
Grease consistency is thicker than the viscosity of rock drill oil. Molecules of grease are too large to dissolve in the bloodstream. Studies have proven that the viscosity of rock drill oil is such that molecules of misted oil are too large to dissolve in the bloodstream.
When drills are "dieseling", rock drill oil is actually being burned in the drill, producing an oxidized gas which is unhealthy to breath. Grease will not "diesel". In cold temperatures, heavy grease may not reach and lubricate the drill front end. Use the proper grade of grease suited to the temperature. (see procedures). (see what damage occurs if this happens)
Customers observed a reduction in wear of moving drill parts in preliminary testing. No overall improvement in parts wear proven. If orifice setting in a HAL Lubricator is too large (Example: winter orifice used in summer) too much grease goes to the drill. It may fill or plug the valve chest slowing operation. JOY Lubricator requires no orifice change.
It is noted that double zero grease will collect and retain dirt and debris carried into the drill from rusted pipelines creating a grinding media to wear parts. When rock drill oil washes out of the drill it carries with it most of the dirt and debris that may have blown into the drill from rusted pipelines.
It appears older drills, though nearly worn out have higher compression using grease and operate longer before major overhaul. Use of grease does not increase penetration rates. Use of grease produces little or no reduction in rock drill noise levels.
Grease is very sticky in severe cold conditions. Grease can become tacky in drills stored in cold conditions and drills become hard to start. Rock drill oil works in all weather conditions. Oil does not stick to parts in drills left in storage in cold conditions so drills start readily.
Notice less vibration in drills using grease.
Observations not proven by measurement.
Testing continues.
De-fatting solvents are used in manufacture of some greases. De-fatting solvents have a tendency to dry out human tissue. Exposed operators complain of dry skin. No de-fatting agents used in manufacture of Petro-Canada Vultrex EP000 grease.
Independent testing at CANMET's Experimental Mine has recorded a 75% reduction in consumption of lubricant in preliminary testing.
Description IMPERIAL METRIC
Capacity 1 1/2 Pints 700 ml
Length 8 Inches 200 mm
Diameter 4 1/2 Inches 115 mm
Weight Empty 8 Pounds 3.5 kg
Weight Full 12 Pounds 5.5 kg
Pressure Rated (Operating Max) 250 psi 17 kg/cm3
Safety Fill Cap Diameter 1 7/8 Inches 48 mm
Pressure Tested to Destruction 1200 psi 85 kg/cm3
Pipe Thread Size at Intake or Outlet 1 1/4 Inches 1 1/4 Inches
Bushing Sizes Available 1 1/4 Inches to 1 Inch or 3/4 Inch 1 1/4 Inches to 1 Inch or 3/4 Inch

Joy lubricators were pressure tested to destruction and required internal pressures exceeding 1200 psi before cracks began to appear in castings. Even at extreme pressure the cracks which appear simply release internal pressure without exploding the lubricator. The safety filler cap warns when opening the Lubricator under pressure. The Joy Lubricator has been thoroughly tested and found to be a safe pressure vessel.
Recommended for use with quality rock drill oil or triple zero (000) rock drill grease.

It is a fact that lack of lubrication is the leading cause of failure of most equipment.

  • Rock drills need better lubrication than a gasoline engine!
  • There is much more shock loading on rock drill parts than engine parts.
  • The piston in a rock drill is striking the drill steel as well as reciprocating in the cylinder.

Lack of lubrication can be prevented by :

  • Installing a Joy 5048912 lubricator in the air line within 12 feet of the drill (or other equipment).
  • Select a qood quality rock drill oil or rock drill grease from a recognized brand supplier.
  • Check the drill to be sure the line oiler is delivering proper lubrication.
  • Fill the line oiler at start of a shift, check 1/2 way through to be sure the reservoir is full.

Evidence of Lack of lubrication:

Front End:
Burnt piston removed from a siezed rock drill following a severe lack of lubrication. The end broke off the piston and the rock drill cylinder from this drill was ruined, and had to be scrapped.
Picture Courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand leg

Piston:
Cut-away view of a front end from a hand held rock drill showing excessive scoring and marking from abrasive wear following a lack of lubrication. The front end was scrapped.
Picture Courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand leg

Rifle Bar:
Close up view of splines of a rifle bar taken from a rock drill run without lubrication. Notice the prominent tell-tale transverse cracks running across splines of the rifle bar. The rifle bar broke in half, and was replaced.
Picture Courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand leg

Rifle Nuts:
A new rifle nut (on the left) compared with the rifle nut from a drill run with little or no lubrication (on the right). It only takes a few minutes without lubrication to do this kind of damage.
Picture Courtesy of Ingersoll-Rand leg