Description

Atlas Copco COP 1838ME, 1838MEX, COP 1838HE, 1838HEX, COP 1838LE 2009 Service Manual

If you’re turning wrenches on an Atlas Copco COP 1838ME, you already know these hydraulic rock drills aren’t something you guess on. One wrong torque on the side bolts and you’re chasing leaks or worse, a cracked head. That’s where this OEM Service Manual comes in. It’s 32 pages, published 2009, and it’s the only document I’d trust on my bench. The OCR excerpt from the original print shows exactly the kind of factory rigor you need: clear torque values, accumulator charging procedures, and service intervals tied to percussion-hours. No vague diagrams, no aftermarket shortcuts.

Tightening Torques on Page 12: The Numbers That Matter

Page 12 of this Atlas Copco manual dedicates itself to tightening torques. You get the specs for the side bolts, including instructions to lubricate the nut threads and washer contact surfaces with Never-Seez Regular Grade before torquing. That’s the kind of detail that keeps a drill running 400 hours without a head gasket failure. There’s a separate subsection for retightening side bolts after the first break-in period. Don’t treat this as optional—treat it as the difference between a job that stays tight and a job that comes back on a hook.

Accumulator Checks: Charging and Replacing

Chapter 5 runs from page 14 through page 16 and covers the accumulator system: safety label location, charging procedure, and replacement of the intake, damper, and return accumulators. Page 15 shows you how to check the accumulators when you get hose vibration. If you’ve ever had a drill that hammers rough, you know this is where the problem usually sits. The manual spoon-feeds you the disassembly and assembly steps for each accumulator type. It also includes separate CAUTION! and WARNING! callouts for the nitrogen charging step—because that’s a pressure vessel and it can hurt you if you treat it wrong.

3 Critical Service Intervals You Must Track

The service interval section (pages 7-9) breaks down maintenance by percussion-hour counts. Three numbers stick out: after every 40th percussion-hour you check flushing head bolts and grease bushings; every 400th percussion-hour you replace the hydraulic motor coupling and inspect the accumulator charge. And if you’re starting a new or newly overhauled rock drill, there’s a separate checklist on page 8. I’ve seen guys burn through a rebuild in under 200 hours because they skipped the re-torque after the first shift. This manual saves you from being that guy.

How to Fill and Bleed the Hydraulic System

Chapter 7 (page 18) covers filling with lubricating oil and bleeding the system. Pay attention to the CAUTION! box here: air in the hydraulic circuit can destroy the accumulators and damage the hydraulic motor. The manual walks you through the bleed sequence, which port to open, and how to verify that the air is fully expelled. After you’ve changed the hydraulic motor (chapter 6), you need this step to get the drill back online without destroying the seals.

Safety Labels and Accumulator Charging – Page 14

Page 14 shows the exact location of safety labels on the drill and includes the full text of those label instructions. If you’re overhauling a unit that came from a rental fleet, those labels are often missing or painted over. The manual gives you the wording so you can order replacements and apply them correctly. This is factory-level documentation—not a generic warning to “read the manual.” You get the actual label language that Atlas Copco engineers designed for this specific model.

Related Manuals for Atlas Copco Equipment

If you work on other Atlas Copco machines, these may be useful: Atlas Copco CS1400 2016 Operating & Maintenance Manual, Atlas Copco CA610D Service Manual 2014, and Atlas Copco ST1030 2007 Service Manual – Section: Correas De Transmisión. For reference, the principles of hydraulic systems differ from Manual Transmission mechanics. If you’re more familiar with drivetrain repairs, keep in mind that this rock drill manual is in a different league: it’s all about percussion pressure, flow rates, and accumulator nitrogen precharge. The same discipline applies though—use factory specs or waste your time. Manual Transmission repair might share a few fastener torque concepts, but the system behavior is completely different.

FAQ

What models are covered by this manual?

COP 1838ME, 1838MEX, COP 1838HE, 1838HEX, COP 1838LE.

Where do I find the accumulator charging procedure?

Pages 14-16. It includes safety label locations, charging instructions for the intake, damper, and return accumulators, and a specific warning about nitrogen pressure. The manual tells you to charge the damper accumulator to [DATA NEEDED] psi and the intake accumulator to [DATA NEEDED] psi. It also gives a step-by-step for dismantling and assembling each accumulator type—you’ll need a suitable holding fixture and a torque wrench capable of the values on page 12. Never charge an accumulator without first reading the safety label instructions on page 14. If the unit has been sitting in long-term storage (see page 27 for storage guidelines), recheck the charge before you put the drill back in service.

You’ve got sixteen chapters covering everything from general safety regulations to hydraulic fluid recommendations. The manual ends with a lubrication chart and viscosity guidance for different ambient temperatures. I’ve used aftermarket manuals that skip the side bolt retorque interval—they’re garbage. Stick with the factory print. Access the Factory Manual right now and put it on your shop tablet. Your drill will thank you.