Vulcan Offshore Tip #23: Lubrication

Below are the lubrication specifications for the Vulcan offshore pile hammers. Above is a hammer diagram showing the locations of lubricant applications.

APPLICATION POINT	Lube Type	Oil Viscosity		Flash Point (Min.)		Other Requirements
APPLICATION POINT	Lube Type	SUS, 212° F	cSt, 100°C	Deg. F	Deg. C	Other Requirements
Cylinder and Base Jaws. Trip Faces. Slide Bar. Slide Bar Dovetail. Columns/Ram Grease fittings* Columns/Exposed Surfaces* Hydra/Nuts	NLGI EP2 Grease	70-100	13-20	450	235	Permitted Thickners Lithium 12 Hydroxy-Stearate Lithium Complex Calcium Complex Polyurea MoS2 Anti-Wear Additive Anti-Rust Additive
Relief Ports (Steam Opr.) Steam Line Oiler	Steam Cylinder Oil AGMA 8	160-190	34-41	550	290	10% Tallow or Lard Content
Relief Ports (Air Opr.) Air Line Oiler	Air Compressor Oil AGMA 1	40-50	40-50	400	200	Anti-Oxidant
Outboard Bearing Open Steam Chest Bearing	Gear Oil AGMA 5 EP	80-105	80-105	400	200

It is important to keep your Vulcan hammer properly lubricated to insure the maximum possible hammer life and driving performance.

Also, for the threads of the cable fittings. use an an anti-seize compound to prevent galIing and freezing of the threads.

*NLGI EP2 greases will vary widely in the results for this application. Another alternative to this is a heavy open gear lubricant with MoS₂ anti-wear additive. This should be applied directly to the exposed columns.

An air line oiler for the Vulcan #0 (0, OR) and the 80C hammers, from 1955. Vulcan eventually migrated to a tank-type oiler for the smaller hammers and a piston-fed oiler for the larger ones.

The Manzel type of lubricator, more common with the offshore hammers. This lubricator was a series of injectors (similar to fuel injectors on an automobile or truck) which were driven by a small electric motor. A steady stream of lubricant is injected into the line. Use of proper air or steam lubricant insures that the oil emulsifies with the flow and spreads throughout the cylinder and valving.

The Vulcan Sight Feed Line Oiler, which uses an injection similar to a carburettor. This is similar in concept to the McCall Lubricator featured on many Raymond rigs. The lubricant tank is integral to the unit, below the air/steam inlet/outlet. Simple in concept and operation, it made it easy to keep the cylinder lubricated. This oiler is lubricating Vulcan’s experimental Single/Compound hammer; usually the oilers were mounted on the air compressor or near the boiler in a more permanent fashion.

Note: Tip dated 1 August 1980. Another presentation of this data is contained in the Onshore Field Service Manual. Click here for more details.