VESCONITE EARTHMOVING

The dirt, abrasion and loads associated with earthmoving equipment create notoriously harsh operating conditions for moving parts. Despite these conditions – more often than not combining dirt and water – Vesconite performs well, and is the ideal material for bushings operating under slow speeds or oscillating movements under high load. With its lubrication-free qualities, Vesconite can save machine operators considerable lubrication downtime, not to mention reduced wear on costly counter moving parts.

Benefits for earthmoving

Vesconite does not swell or distort in water.

Vesconite has a high abrasion resistance.

Vesconite does not delaminate.

Vesconite does not corrode.

Vesconite does not require lubrication.

Vesconite saves on costly maintenance downtime.

Vesconite is resistant to oils and fuels.

Vesconite bushes are easy to fit and remove.

Vesconite is shaft-friendly.

Common earthmoving applications

Cylinder arm bushes.

Ripper pivot linkages.

Grader tandem bushes.

Centre cone bearings.

Trailer axle bushes.

Articulating and linear bushes.

Material comparison

Bronze and nylon articulation bushes have high wear rates, due to the abrasive working environment. This results in rapid wear of the surrounding components.

Linear bushings operate against shafts that are often exposed to harsh environmental conditions. With traditional bushings, these areas trap grease, causing dirt to penetrate the shaft bushings.

Vesconite offers a huge time-saving compared to bronze and steel bearings on earthmoving machinery, where maintenance involves lubricating hundreds of grease points, with resultant downtime.

Earthmoving Case Studies

Vesconite grader bushings show low wear

A Vesconite kingpin and centre cone bushing were tested on a municipal grader. After 450 000km, the wear on the large bush was 0.2mm and the wear on the small bush was 0.08mm. Not only did the parts cost less than the original OEM parts, the longer life of the bushings and the reduced wear on the shaft made a convincing economic argument for the replacement of the bushings with Vesconite.

Hire business pleased with seal performance

An earthmoving-equipment hire business has fitted its bulldozer's hydraulic shift transmissions with Vesconite Hilube seals. The company maintains, repairs and, when required, makes its own components, recently machining the seals between transmission housings and rotating clutches from Vesconite Hilube, with excellent results. Vesconite Hilube's easy-to-machine qualities ensured a quick and simple solution, withstanding the high temperatures associated with the operation of these machines. The seals were tested in position with compressed air and found to seal more effectively than the OEM parts.

UK dump truck manufacturer continues to fit Vesconite bushings

An original equipment dump truck manufacturer first tested the company’s Vesconite Hilube material in its articulation bushes in 2014, and established that they performed well in harsh operating conditions including large-scale construction projects, quarries and mine sites. The 355.95mm-outside-diameter Vesconite Hilube bushings were found to be cost-effective with prolonged durability in the long-run. The dump-truck manufacturer continues to order Vesconite bearings for its 38 ton dump trucks, which have a heaped capacity of 23.3m³ and an engine power of 331kW.

Grader fitted with Vesconite rear frame hanger bushing

A grader operator spent considerable sums on labour and downtime by lubricating the bronze rear frame bushings on the machine. Despite regular greasing, the lifetime of the original bushings was still limited. The grader was fitted with Vesconite rear frame hanger bushings, with satisfactory results, avoiding the need for regular greasing and ensuring hassle-free operation.

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Other Industries

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Forklifts

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The Vesconite Story

A History Going Back 60 Years