Who This Checklist Is For
This is for anyone who signs off on incoming Epiroc equipment or parts—whether you're a maintenance supervisor at a mining operation, a procurement officer sourcing D65 drill rig components, or a dealer managing inventory of breakers and attachments.
We receive about 200+ unique items annually at our facility. After a $22,000 redo in Q1 2024 due to a mismatched breaker bracket I didn't catch early enough, I sat down and built this. Six steps. Took about an hour to write. Saved us from at least three similar headaches since.
Step 1: Verify Part Numbers Against the Original PO
Obvious, right? You'd be surprised.
We once got a shipment labeled "Epiroc D65 drill rig feed beam assembly" that turned out to be for a D55 model. Same packaging. Same sticker design. Even the weight felt close. The part number was off by one digit—6 vs 5. The vendor blamed a "warehouse mix-up."
What to do:
Before you even unband the pallet, cross-reference the part number on the packaging against what's on your purchase order. Not the description. Not the model name. The alphanumeric code.
If you don't have a formal verification process for this, set one up. The third time we got the wrong quantity of breaker chisels, I finally created a checklist. Should have done it after the first time.
Step 2: Visual Inspection for Branding and Finish Consistency
This is where the "quality as brand perception" idea kicks in. Epiroc is a premium brand. The finish on their rock breakers and drill rigs is part of that.
Check for:
- Color match—Epiroc yellow is specific. If it looks orange or pale, something's off.
- Paint consistency. Peeling, overspray, or thin spots are red flags.
- Labeling. Logos should be straight, clear, and aligned. A crooked decal says more about the production line than people think.
I ran a blind test with our shop team last year: same breaker side plate, one with OEM finish, one with a budget refinish. 87% identified the OEM as "more professional" without knowing which was which. The cost difference on that part? About $50. On a major breaker rebuild, that's still a fraction of the total. Worth it for how the customer perceives the machine when it rolls out.
"Industry standard color tolerance is Delta E < 2 for brand-critical colors. Delta E of 2-4 is noticeable to trained observers; above 4 is visible to most people."
Reference: Pantone Color Matching System guidelines
We don't run spectrophotometer checks on every bracket, but we train our inspectors to spot a bad match. You can too.
Step 3: Dimensional Check of Critical Mount Points
This is the step most people skip. They look at the part, it looks right, they sign it in. Then the mechanic tries to bolt it on and things don't line up.
For drill rigs like the Epiroc D65, critical dimensions include pin hole diameters, boom mount spacing, and feed beam rail width. For breakers, the bracket width and pin size must match the carrier—whether it's a Kubota skid steer or a full-size excavator.
Don't assume. Just because it's the "right" part number doesn't mean machining tolerances are within spec for your application.
Quick check: Measure the three most likely failure points with a caliper. Takes five minutes. Could save a full day of labor rework.
Step 4: Functional Test of Moving Components (When Possible)
Not everything can be test-fired on the dock, but anything that moves manually should be cycled.
On a hydraulic breaker:
- Check that the piston moves freely in the cylinder bore.
- Rotate the bushings—they should turn without binding.
- Compress the nitrogen charge port cap (if applicable). It should seat and seal.
On a D65 drill rig feed beam:
- Slide the drill carriage along the rails by hand (or with a pry bar if it's heavy). Should move smoothly.
- Inspect chain tension. Too loose and it'll skip. Too tight and you'll wear bushings in a week.
We didn't have a formal test process for inbound parts. Cost us when a tight carriage bushing went unnoticed and seized on the first start-up. That bushing was $35. The downtime was billed at $1,200.
Step 5: Inspect for Shipping Damage (Especially on Large Components)
This one should be automatic, but the pressure to unload a truck quickly works against it.
Had 10 minutes to decide whether to accept a delivery of D65 drill mast sections before the driver left. Normally I'd inspect each piece, but there was no time. Went with our usual carrier based on trust alone.
In hindsight, I should have held the truck. But with the site manager waiting for those masts to keep a crew working, I made the call with incomplete information.
Result: two sections had fork tine punctures through the outer skin. Not visible until we unbanded them. $4,000 in repair labor. Carrier denied the claim because I signed the delivery receipt without noting damage.
Lesson: Never sign for "received in good condition" until you've inspected the packaging for punctures, crushing, or moisture exposure. Especially on large fabricated parts like drill rig booms or breaker housings.
Step 6: Document Everything for the Next Person
Even after accepting a good shipment, I kept second-guessing. What if something was missed? The hours until the parts hit the job site were stressful.
So now: every incoming Epiroc item gets a photo of the part number label, a photo of the item itself, and a check-off on our simple form. Takes 2 minutes per item. Gives the next person in the chain (the mechanic, the fitter, the site supervisor) a record of what came in.
Approved a rush order for a breaker diaphragm once and immediately thought "did I verify the part number?" Couldn't remember. No photo. Had to walk back to the receiving bay to check again. Wasted 15 minutes that I didn't have.
A lesson learned the hard way.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Relying on the Vendor's Inspection Report
Vendors provide certificates of conformance. They also send wrong parts. The two aren't mutually exclusive. Use their report as a starting point, not the final word.
Mistake 2: Skipping Inspection on Commonly-ordered Items
The parts you order most—filters, seals, wear parts—are the ones people unload with least scrutiny. That's exactly where errors hide. The wrong O-ring kit for an Epiroc hydraulic breaker will cause an hours-long diagnostic nightmare when it doesn't seal.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the Attachments
We see more issues on quick couplers, brackets, and hoses than on the main drill rig or breaker unit itself. Attachments often come from different production lines or even sub-suppliers. Treat them with the same inspection rigor.
This checklist isn't perfect. It never will be. But absent a formal system, it's better than going by gut feel. If you have a formal quality process already, compare your steps to these and see if you're missing one. That gap is where your next $22,000 redo lives.
