I did a quick search and didnt come up with any relevant answers so the question is on a case cx160 it has a button to turn off the swing brake. When would you want to turn the swing brake function off? Other machines ive ran never had this feature and wasnt sure what the benefit was.
I prefer to run my machine with the swing brake off.
The free swing is mainly for craning. Say you were lifting a section of pipe or a manhole when you swing with the free swing engaged and go to stop swinging to set the pipe it will come to a real gradual stop to cut down the amount of load swing. If you did the same thing in normal swing mode as you let off the swing lever the brake starts to apply and can stop the swing a little harsher and cause the load to swing more.
Good day Hammer Often this feature is included for when you are cleaning the face of the dig with the bucket side, prevents excessive load and shocks to the slew transmission. Regards Uffex
Excavators use the swing brake only as a parking device. Turn the brake on and the house won't rotate. Turn the brake off and the computer operates the brake. It sets automatically when none of the controls have been moved for approximately seven seconds. Most of the manufacturers I've dealt with have taken the swing out completely and the function is only controlled by the computer. Some excavators have an option of a free swing feature. These were normally installed at the dealer level and have varying levels of effectiveness. In general these controls were installed in logging machines for operators that learned on friction shovels. A true free swing will allow the house to rotate under momentum or when tilted out of horizontal. In order to stop the turn you have to move the control to swing in the opposite direction.
C series and later Cat excavators sometimes have a switch to stop the swing brake coming on. Most operators don't seem to know it's there. If it's operating on a slope and the switch is activated, the machine will slowly swing around under gravity. I've made quite a few dollars from callouts to swing brake problems caused by operators putting their luchbox down on a switch.
when the free swing switch is activated is there an harm done to the swing motor by swinging in the opposite direction of rotation to slow the house?
It causes extra heat in the hydraulic system and might shorten the working life of the relief valve cartridges since you have to throw all your oil to the opposite side of the circuit just to stop the house from turning. Swing motor hoses tend to not live as long. On a standard machine all the high pressure of slowing the house turn is held in the motor. Put the free swing in the machine and now all the high pressure is between the motor and the main control valve. There is also extra plumbing and valves that tend to fail at the worst time possible.
This feature is often used when picking objects to center the load before picking. Most all of the excavators that I have run have this feature and some folks, like ddigger, prefer to run with the swing brake disengaged at all times.