Well,after 3 years of hammering with my Montabert V45,i broke my point today.I was breaking the oversize when the hammer speeded up like a machine gun.My 1st thought was the point retaining pins had broke.But when i slowly lifted the hammer up,the point stayed on the rock .The workshop forman was very understanding,knowing that i dont abuse my hammer.It has a re-build once a year,a 2 points a year,but i`ve never broke a point.Did`nt have any fitters at the yard,so i removed the broken end my self,& they soon droped a new point to me.It weighs about 225kgs so i struggled a bit,but soon had it fitted.Trouble is,the new point is so long,i`m on edge as not to break it
The photos show the rubber bungs that sit in the point retaining holes,& 2 screwdrivers needed to push the retaining pins in to remove the point.Its a very simple set up.You can see from the photo of the end of the hammer the missing broken wear plate,its there on the top,broken on the bottom.Its due a rebuild now & the bottom of the casing will be built back up so there is about 4"/100mm of metal from the base to the hammer internals.There is currently about 10mm of metal left.The steel bar in the hammer is topush the remaining point up so i could remove the pins

hi neil how you doing ? i know what you mean about the points been so long been there and dont it but some times it just cant be helped

Not too bad thanks John.I finished in Hereford yesterday.Back in Somerset now in my normal "home".
I`m sure my new points were shorter,but this is the 2nd point i`ve fitted thats 30" long(pushed up into hammer)My previous points were about 22" long,so a bit less of a worry about breaking them.
How long at the Gore were you after i left??

was there for a total of 4 days had another job to go to

Great story mate! Never had any experience with hammers but i quite fancy running one for a day or two! Will have to get some tips off you when i do end up on one! haha

Broke my hammer AGAIN this week ,wear n tear this time though.
Hammering away,& as the rock split,my point fell out of the hammer .
On the 2nd pic down,there are 2 holes on the side of the outer casing.There is a plunge pin in there on both outer sides,with a long spring in between them.The pins are hollow so the spring sits in them,with the outer end of the pin solid.The solid pin end broke off,allowing the pin to slide in past the 2 inch dia point retaining pin.All that was then holding the retaining pin in was the spring.The 2 inch retaining pin soon broke the spring,then pushed the big rubber bungs out & fell straight out of the hammer.The remaining point retaining pin could`nt carry the load,broke in half,allowing the point to fall out
I manage to find the unbroken pin in amongst the rock,& 1 rubber bung.After half an hour on the phone to the w/shop manager,hed found the bits that i needed.30 mins the following morn,it was all back together & working fine.
It sound worse than it was.But considering how much a hammer would cost,& the work it does,its very easy to work/strip my hammer.

sounds like you know what your doing! haha Will you be getting a new hammer when you get your new machine or will you be keeping the same one?
Any idea what your new machine will be yet?

Joe

Will keep the hammer i have now.They will have it in the workshop,our welder will make a new bottom piece for the outer casing that will last about a year again.They will send the inner hammer to Montabert for a re build.Last year in needed new seals,& the inner middle & lower wear wedges(the piece thats broke off).Then new retaining pins etc on rebuilding.Its all wear & tear parts.Monabert recomend a re build every 12 mths.