SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL ECM690/HC150

ROTATION CIRCUIT

The main hydraulic pump provides fluid for the rotation circuit. The
pump was discussed in a previous section of this manual. The
A pilot operated proportional valve located at the front bulkhead of the
engine compartment controls rotation. The valve is spring centered to
neutral and has internal pressure control. The rotation valve has a
maximum flow rate of 17 GPM (64 L/min.). The valve is proportional
that means that the amount of flow passed through the valve is
regulated by the position of the main valve spool. There are also
adjustable spool stops on the valve, which are factory set for the
proper flow rate. The position of the spool is controlled by the amount
of pilot pressure supplied by the rotation pilot valve that is located in
the drill console of the operator cab. The rotation control is one of four
pilot valves that control all drilling functions. These valves are
assembled in a stacked valve configuration. Pressure is supplied to
the drill control valve bank from the drill / tram pilot selector
manifold. The reducing / relieving valve cartridge in the drill / tram
manifold is set for a maximum pressure of 500 PSI (34 Bar). This
manifold is discussed in the pilot circuit section of this manual. When
the rotation control is in the neutral position, both pilot lines leading to
the main valve spool are connected to the reservoir. This means that
there is no pilot pressure on either end of the spool and the spool
centering springs maintain the valve spool in the neutral position.

NOTE: When troubleshooting this system the drill / tram selector

switch on the tram console must be in the drill position before
pilot pressure is directed to the drilling control pilot valves.

Moving the rotation control lever approximately 10o will allow pilot
pressure into a pilot line leading to the main valve spool. Moving the
rotation control lever forward will pressurize the PA port of the main
valve that will move the spool to activate forward rotation. Moving the
control lever backward will pressurize the PB port that will activate
reverse rotation. The pilot pressure supplied by the controller begins
at 85 PSI (6 Bar) as it initially opens and varies proportionally as the
lever is moved away from the neutral position. The maximum
controlled pressure which is reached before the lever is fully open is

Chapter 9 Page 1 Rotation Circuit

SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL ECM690/HC150

300 PSI (20 Bar) As the lever is moved past this position, pressure in
the pilot line will reach 500 PSI (34 Bar).

Forward rotation speed for drilling is operator adjustable in the cab.

Pilot pressure is directed to the rotation speed control. Rotation speed
is controlled by a pressure-reducing valve that is located in the same
manifold as the feed pressure control. There is also a normally
closed solenoid cartridge in the manifold that will be discussed later
in this section. The setting of the pressure-reducing cartridge, which
is controlled by the operator, limits the pilot pressure to the Pc pilot
port of the rotation valve thereby limiting the amount of pilot pressure
applied to the valve spool. This limits the fluid flow reaching the drifter
rotation motor. Reverse rotation pilot pressure is not limited so
maximum rotation speed is always available in reverse rotation.

The solenoid valve mentioned in the previous paragraph is energized

when the dust collector / rod changer switch is placed in the rod
changer position. This allows maximum pilot pressure to bypass the
pressure-reducing valve. Rotation flow (speed) reaches its maximum.
This allows synchronization of the feed speed for easier coupling and
uncoupling during rod changes. There is also a switch on the driller’s
console that energizes fast rotation. This switch also energizes the
pressure limiting solenoid that will be discussed in the following
paragraph.

NOTE: The rotation and feed levers are used in the fully shifted
position when changing drill rods. Full rotation speed is used
when setting the synchronization of feed and rotation.

There is another solenoid valve that is energized at the same time as

the solenoid valve discussed in the previous paragraph. It is located
in the rotation torque limit manifold located on the front panel in the
engine compartment. When the solenoid is energized the
compensator section of the rotation valve is connected to a pilot relief
valve which is set at 1200 PSI (80 Bar). This limits the rotation
pressure during rod changing and when the fast rotation switch is
activated. The pressure switch that activates the drifter lubrication
solenoid and the drifter hour meter is also found in this manifold.

Chapter 9 Page 2 Rotation Circuit

SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL ECM690/HC150

ADJUSTMENTS:

The drill operator can adjust drilling rotation speed to match drilling
conditions at any time. The only other adjustment is the rotation
pressure-limiting valve. This valve is set at 1200 PSI (80 Bar). These
steps can be followed:

1. Place the dust collector / rod changer switch in the rod

changer position.

2. Make sure that the rotation valve is in the neutral position.

Open the centralizers.

3. Lower the drill bit and drill steel which are connected to the
drifter so the bit is within the centralizer jaws. Close the
centralizers on the bit.

4. Place the rotation lever in the forward rotation position. The

rotation gauge should indicate 1200 PSI (80 Bar). If the
pressure is not correct locate the rotation pressure torque limit
valve in the engine compartment.

5. To increase the pressure, loosen the lock nut and turn the
adjustment screw in or clockwise. To decrease the pressure,
turn the adjustment screw out or counter clockwise. Be sure to
retighten the locknut.

Chapter 9 Page 3 Rotation Circuit

SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL ECM690/HC150

Drill Controls in Operators Cab.

Rotation
speed
control

Rotation

Feed and rotation valves-located at RH front of enclosure

Valve pressure adjustments are

located under rubber plugs.
The adjustment is located
adjacent to its work port

Spool Stops for Flow

Adjustment
Rotation section

Chapter 9 Page 4 Rotation Circuit

Chapter 9

SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL

ROTATION CIRCUIT
Montabert HC150 DRIFTER
ROTATION MOTOR

R11 R12
T1
FR

1200
PSI
R1TP
Rotation gauge in cab RR
2

PSI

P1

RV FV
Page 5

RFS

RPP D
ROTATION SPEED/ T

FEED PRESSURE
CONTROL VALVE
THE PILOT PRESSURE RANGE
Pc Pd A B Pc Pd A B OF THE DRILL CONTROL VALVE
IS 84 TO 297 PSI
Fast feed Rotation 2 1 2 1 1
26.4 GPM 17 GPM
99 LPM 63 LPM
Rotation Circuit

DRIFTER ROTATE FEED BLOWING

3600 PSI 2500 PSI

ECM690/HC150
245 Bar 170 Bar AIR

LX PILOT PRESSURE
LS
500 PSI P

T P LSa LSa LSb T

DRILL PILOT VALVE

LOCATED IN THE CAB
SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL ECM690/HC150

Rotation Back Pressure Kit

The back pressure kit is used to enhance the rotation circuit so that
the drill has a more stable torque output and that the automatics can
work better and it also helps eliminate the ratcheting seen while
drilling in the bad conditions. The back-pressure kit is installed on the
reverse rotation line usually at the boom bulkhead and has only one
adjustment screw. This adjustment screw is used to set the amount of
pressure on the outlet of the motor. The adjustment screw is under a
small cap to protect the threads and also has a jam nut on the stem.
The normal pressure setting is somewhere between 800 PSI and
1000 PSI (54 and 68 Bar) depending on which rotation motor cartridge
is in the drifter. For the .055 rotation motor the setting approximately
1000 PSI (68 Bar) and the .067 motor would be approximately 800
PSI (54 Bar) setting. These settings may vary according to the drill
application.

Back pressure manifold adjustment procedure:

1. Back out the adjustment screw before proceeding. Start the

machine and fully warm up the hydraulic oil temperature to normal
operating range.

2. Install a 3000 PSI (200 Bar) or higher gauge is attached at the test
port on the back-pressure manifold.

3. Install one drill steel and bit on the drifter and retract it being sure
that the bit is above the ground. Turn on the rotation.

4. Make sure that the rotation speed is at the normal RPM for drilling
and observe the gauge reading at the test port. Record this reading.
Turn the adjustment screw in or CW to increase the gauge reading to
about 800 –1000 PSI above the previous number. This completes the
setting on the back-pressure manifold. Be sure to retighten the
adjustment lock-nut.

It will be necessary to adjust the rotation torque limit (V4). Refer to

chapter 7 of this manual for instructions.

Chapter 9 Page 6 Rotation Circuit

SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL ECM690/HC150

Possible problems encountered is this manifold is retrofitted to an

older unit.

1. Loss of full RPM – Problem may be the compensator adjustment

not high enough on the rotation valve “A” port. – This can be set
higher by removing the plastic cap beside the “A”port on top of the
valve and turning the adjustment screw in or CW to a higher setting.

2. The higher back-pressure might may affect the synchronization

settings for the rod changer. Reset the feed speed adjustment during
rod changing.

3. The operator will observe a higher reading on the rotation gauge in

the cab. This is normal with a back-pressure valve installed. The
actual torque created by the bit while drilling remains the same.

Chapter 9 Page 7 Rotation Circuit

Chapter 9

SERVICE TRAINING MANUAL

ROTATION CIRCUIT
Montabert HC150 with Rotation Back Pressure Valve DRIFTER
ROTATION MOTOR

R11 R12
T1
FR

1200
PSI
R1TP
Rotation gauge in cab RR
2 2000 PSI
136 Bar

PSI

P1

RV FV
.040 Orifice

Rotation Back Pressure Valve

Page 8

RFS

RPP D T
ROTATION SPEED/
FEED PRESSURE
CONTROL VALVE
THE PILOT PRESSURE RANGE
Pc Pd A B Pc Pd A B OF THE DRILL CONTROL VALVE
IS 84 TO 297 PSI
Fast feed Rotation 2 1 2 1 1
26.4 GPM 17 GPM
99 LPM 63 LPM
Rotation Circuit

ECM690/HC150
DRIFTER ROTATE FEED BLOWING
3600 PSI 2500 PSI
170 Bar AIR
245 Bar

LX PILOT PRESSURE
LS
500 PSI P

T P LSa LSa LSb T

DRILL PILOT VALVE

LOCATED IN THE CAB