SHANK

770 234 86 SHANK is the business end that takes the direct hit from the piston and gets all that impact energy transferred down the drill string. It's what connects the rock drill to your drill rod, spinning it and pushing it forward. Think of it as the critical link that has to handle both the hammering action and the rotation, day in and day out, in some pretty nasty conditions. If this piece isn't doing its job right, you're not drilling, plain and simple.

When this SHANK starts to wear out, usually what you'll notice first is a drop in penetration rate. The impact energy isn't getting through efficiently, so your drill just isn't biting like it should. You might also start hearing a bit more clatter or feel increased vibration coming from the rock drill head. Sometimes, if the splines are really gone, you'll see the drill rod spinning inconsistently or even binding up. That's a sure sign things are getting sloppy in there, and you're losing power.

When you're swapping one of these out, don't just throw the new one in and call it a day. Always take a good look at the corresponding splines in the rock drill's rotation chuck or driver. If those are worn too, you'll just chew up your new SHANK in no time. Also, make sure you're using the right grease and getting it in there properly; it makes a huge difference to the life of the splines and the overall performance.