Analysis of wear mechanisms in the sliding and pivoting joints of backhoe loader booms and techniques for their repair using mobile service facilities

Peer-reviewed article deposited for open archiving and discovery (librarian deposit; author: Taras Veherinskyi). Original publication: Veherinskyi, T. (2026). Analysis of wear mechanisms in the sliding and pivoting joints of backhoe loader booms and techniques for their repair using mobile service facilities. Machinery & Energetics, Vol. 17, No. 3 (2026), pp. 7-19. Published 24 September 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31548/machinery/3.2026.07 Article page: https://technicalscience.com.ua/en/journals/t-17-3-2026/analiz-mekhanizmiv-znosu-kovznikh-ta-povorotnikh-z-yednan-stril-ekskavatoriv-navantazhuvachiv-ta-tekhnologiya-yikh-vidnovlennya-zasobami-mobilnogo-servisu Issue archive: https://technicalscience.com.ua/en/journals/t-17-3-2026 Abstract: Study aimed to identify patterns of degradation in the sliding and swivel joints of backhoe loader booms and to determine the parameters for their on-site repair. The empirical basis comprised 36 repair cases in Ukraine and the USA involving Caterpillar, Komatsu and JCB backhoe loaders. The analysis covered the initial technical condition, damage mechanisms, geometric parameters, repair procedures, non-destructive testing results, time and cost indicators, and post-repair operating hours. In the damage pattern, abrasive-adhesive wear accounted for 58.3%, fatigue cracking for 30.6%, and brittle fracture for 11.1%. The initial absolute ovality was 2.74 ± 1.09 mm, the diametrical clearance was 3.18 ± 1.24 mm, and the concentricity deviation was 1.47 ± 0.61 mm. As the complexity of the damage increased, the thickness of the deposited layer, the stock removal and the number of passes increased, whilst the rotational speed and feed rate decreased. After repair, the absolute ovality was reduced to 0.29 ± 0.11 mm, and the concentricity deviation to 0.2 ± 0.09 mm. The reduction in ovality across the different brands ranged from 87.8-91.4%, and in the concentricity deviation from 84.7-88.7%. Following additional local machining, all assemblies met the final geometric and non-destructive testing requirements. The weighted average duration of on-site repair was 18.6 hours compared with 64.4 hours for component replacement, whilst the total cost was USD 6,003 and USD 22,864, respectively; the relative saving amounted to 73.7%. The proportion of reused material ranged from 87.1% to 90.1%. A direct, statistically significant correlation was established between the initial ovality and the increase in diameter per 1,000 operating hours: r = 0.892; p < 0.001. The practical significance of these results is determined by potential use by repair workshops and mobile service teams to select the appropriate restoration process, centring method, parameters for staged machining, and the scope of final geometric and non-destructive testing.HAL open archive record: https://hal.science/hal-05855799 (hal-05855799)