If the oil circuit in your hydraulic cone crusher gets blocked, the bearings can quickly fail, and the machine will stop working unexpectedly. The first thing you'll notice is symptoms like a sudden drop in oil pressure, the oil coming back will be too hot, or you'll see a low flow alarm on the lubrication panel. If you see any of these, shut down the crusher right away so it doesn't run without oil.

Start by looking for the simplest reasons why this might be happening. Check the oil level and how it looks. If the oil is dirty or has broken down, it can create sludge that blocks small passages. If the oil looks milky or has metal bits in it, drain it and put in fresh oil. After that, check the oil filter. A clogged filter is usually the main problem. Change the filter, and cut open the old one to see if there's any debris, which would mean parts inside are wearing out.

If the filter isn't the issue, then check the oil pump and the line that sucks oil in. If there are air leaks on the suction side, it can cause cavitation, which looks like a blockage. Make sure all fittings are tight and that the pump is pushing out the right amount of oil. Then, look at the oil cooler to see if anything is restricting the flow inside it. A dirty cooler core will slow down the oil flow and make the oil hotter, which makes varnish form faster.

If the blockage is still there, the problem is often inside the crusher itself. You'll need to flush the entire lubrication system with a thin flushing oil. Disconnect and clean the oil supply lines that go to the eccentric bushing, step bearing, and spherical bearing. Use compressed air and a nylon brush to get rid of any hardened deposits. Be extra careful with the small holes in the distribution manifold; these can easily catch debris.

Once everything is put back together, fill it with fresh oil and run the crusher without any material in it. Watch the pressure and flow until they are stable. To prevent future problems, make sure to change the oil every 2,000 hours, replace filters every month, and take oil samples every three months. Keeping the oil circuit clean will make your cone crusher run its best and help its parts last longer.