Impact of exploitation conditions on the types of wear of the excavator slew bearing toothed race

Excavators as operating machines or equipment are exposed to diversetypes of undesired conditions, such as variable workloads, exposure to various environment conditions, unprofessional or imperfect maintenance and others. This paper demonstrates a case of anexcavator slewing ring failure which is investigated. The study suggests the failure to be caused by improper control and inadequate maintenance. The example is illustrated by photodocumentation with description of damage and probable causes in details. In conclusion, distinctive types of conditions are listed for consideration while selecting the appropriate bearing for certain type of load. Further, we outline the necessary conditions needed for maintenance and monitoring the slew ring during normal operations. © 2018 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.