Earthmoving Case Studies

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.

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.

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.

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.