Vibrator Mounting
Learn how to mount a vibrator into a standard power curbers hopper machine. Along with the vibrators, you’ll need vibrator hangers and 2 rubber isolation blocks per vibrator.
This video will describe the act of mounting vibrators into a standard power curbers hopper. This example is a 20 inch wide curb and gutter mold. It will require 2 vibrators.
Assembling the hangers
These are the pieces required:
• The vibrator hangers
• Two rubber isolating blocks per vibrator
• And the vibrators
If the rubber blocks are not attached to the hanger, attach them at this point. Both rubber blocks should face the same direction. Attach them to the 2 lower bolt holes.
The elongated slide holes of the two mount bars should be connected using one of the vibrator clamps. The bolts on this clamp should point the same direction as the rubber blocks.
The other vibrator clamp will be used on the top bolt holes to connect the vibrator mount to the hopper.
Attach the vibrator
You can now attach the vibrator to the mount. The mounting fin of the vibrator bolts to the rubber isolated blocks.
You will need to determine which direction you want the vibrator to face. Orientate the vibrator and its mount so the vibrator hanger faces towards the inside of the hopper, keeping the vibrator hanger out of the corner. This reduces buildup of concrete and eases in cleaning the hopper at the end of the day.
Repeat the process for the remaining vibrators. With only two vibrators in this case, they will be a mirror image of each other.
One vibrator will be for the gutter portion of the mold. Place this vibrator in the hopper. The nuts of the top clamp should be on the outside of the hopper. Orientate the vibrator so that the mount is towards the center. Position the vibrator so it is 4 to 6 inches from the toe of curb.
The other vibrator will be for the head of the curb. Position it so that it is centered in the head.
To adjust the height of the vibrators, look from the rear of the mold and place the tip of the vibrator approximately 2 inches into the top of the final profile. A 2×4, or 4 ft level can be handy for gaging the depth. Make sure to sight from the finish end and not the choke. Setting the vibrator depth off of the choke will cause the vibrators to be installed too high. The choke is the portion of the mold directly behind the hopper. It slopes up into the hopper and is not the final shape of the concrete.
Adjust the vibrator height by sliding the mount bars up or down. When your desired height is reached, tighten the nuts on the mount clamp. Secure the hoses to the vibrator mount using tie wraps or wire.
On the machine
You will need to tie the hoses outside of the hopper as well so the concrete doesn’t pull the hoses in and cause a blockage in the mold.
When connecting the vibrator hoses to the machine be sure that all connectors are clean, a rule of thumb is start with vibrator #1 on the outside of the mold farthest from the operator, that is the head of the curb in this case. With this vibrator plugged into the #1 port in the machine the vibrator for the toe of the curb will be your #2 vibrator.
Placing the vibrators in this order makes it easier for the operator to keep track of which vibrator he is adjusting.
Vibrator placement
Please see our video on vibrator placement for information on molds of different sizes and shapes.