Machine Management: Inspection Checkpoint: Directional Drills
INSPECTION CHECKPOINT
By Marcia Gruver Doyle
How to inspect a used
directional drill
Hone in on three key areas
B
uyers of used horizontal
directional drills should focus
on three critical areas, says
Joel D. Nichols, service manager for
Ditch Witch of Alabama, Alabaster,
Alabama:
The drill frame, including the
anchoring – or stake down system and stabilizers.
The power system, particularly
the engine and hydraulic components.
And finally, downhole tools,
which include the drill pipes,
beacon housing, bits and backreamers.
Before you start, tap someone
knowledgeable to head up the drill
inspection. Nichols handily fits that
role, with almost 45 years of experience both servicing and selling a
variety of Ditch Witch products.
“It’s the only job I’ve ever had,” he
says. “I went straight home from
Vietnam to selling Ditch Witch
equipment.”
Our inspection model is
a JT2020 with
1,776 hours
on it. It’s been
installing
communication lines, and
in its second
Joel Nichols
life could go
into a variety of markets, including
returning to communication installations, or drilling power, water and
sewer lines. Nichols notes that the
hours on any drill show actual, hard
duty as opposed to other types of
construction equipment: “Any time
it’s running, it’s usually boring.”
Before you inspect
a machine, ask if
any maintenance
records are
available.
While a new machine typically would be sold as a three-part
package – drill frame, mud mixing
system and tracking system – used
horizontal drilling machines are
usually offered solo. “Contractors
could have a mud mixing and
tracking system from a previous
machine that would work with a
newer machine so they tend to
keep them,” Nichols says.
Before you inspect a machine,
ask if any maintenance records are
available. This will give you a good
idea of the care the machine has
received.
Drill frame
A straight frame is critical, and
broken frames are difficult to repair.
A misaligned frame means undue
wear on components.
On both tracks, examine the rollers, bearings, idlers, pins and drive
sprockets, looking for excessive
wear. Look at the wear on the track
cleats, or bar lugs. Replacing a track
costs around $3,000, Nichols notes.
The hydraulically powered carriage moves up and down thrusting
and rotating the drill pipe during
drilling, and pulling back during
backreaming. Look for hydraulic
leaks on this key component. Move
it back and forth with your hands
to see if there’s any play in the rack
and pinion, which works the carriage forward and back. Look for
undue wear patterns on the rack
and pinion, which should have an
even wear pattern from top to bottom. Make sure the rack and pinion
are meshed and aligned.
Check out the drill pipe loading
system. Look for hydraulic leaks
along the hoses and manifolds.
“You’ll know right off the bat if the
plastic’s not inside the drill pipe
loaders, and they’re inexpensive to
replace,” Nichol says. Make sure
the front and back pipe loaders are
aligned.
During your walk around, always
look for hydraulic leaks, usually located at O-rings, fittings and
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