CHAPTER 7
Drilling
S36 ROCKDRILL | PARTS & SERVICE MANUAL
January, 2021
19
Never leave the machine
unattended without the rods coupled to the
rockdrill striking bar. If the air pressure in the
centralizer cylinder is lost, the clamping power
will be lost and the drill string can fall out of or
into the hole.
Ensure you wear all
required Personal
Protective Equipment
.
Collaring
1. Engage rotation to counterclockwise direction.
2. Shift the water flushing lever forward. Water
should be spraying out of the end of the bit.
3. Gradually shift the feed lever forward, close the
centralizer to stabilize the drill rod.
4. As the drill bit meets the rock, gradually shift the
percussion lever.
5. If the surface being collared is rough or angled, a
gentle, patient approach will be more successful.
6. It may require several attempts back and forth
with the feed before the hole is successfully
collared.
Drilling
1. The water flushing lever should be completely
forward.
2. The rotation lever should be in the counter-
clockwise rotation direction.
3. Increase rotation speed to match drill bit
requirements. Adjust the rotation control to give a
rotation speed of about 100 ~ 150 rpm. This
rotation speed should be adjusted to give the
best penetration speed - generally faster for small
holes and softer rock and slower for larger holes
and very hard rock. Keep the drill string
oscillating slightly at all times while drilling.
4. Shift the percussion lever completely forward.
5. Shift the feed lever forward. The amount of
movement on the feed lever will dictate the force
behind the drilling bit. With experience, the
sound of the drill will indicate when the feed
thrust needs adjustment.
NOTE: Underfeeding will result in
overheating of the drill string
couplings, reducing component life.
Overfeeding can result in hole
misalignment.
CAUTION
Periodically check the air escaping
around the striking bar to confirm that it is receiving
adequate lubrication. There should be a fine mist of
oil exhausting during normal operation. Poor or non-
existent oil flow will cause extensive damage in a
very short period of time.
Adding Steel
1. When the rockdrill has completed drilling the
entire length of drill steel, move the rotation,
percussion and feed levers to neutral, and turn off
the water flushing.
2. Shift the centralizer control lever forward to
clamp the coupling.
3. Pull the rotation lever toward you to turn the
rotation clockwise.
4. Pull the feed lever toward you to simultaneously
retract the feed. This prevents thread binding.
5. When the rockdrill striking bar is released from
the coupling being held in the centralizer, pull
completely back on the feed lever to quickly
retract the rockdrill while bringing the rotation
lever to neutral.
6. When the rockdrill is at the back of the feed,
insert a new length of drill steel/coupling between
the rockdrill striking bar and the coupling held in
the centralizer.
Always ensure that rockdrill
rotation has come to a complete stop before
attempting to add or remove a drill rod.
