Accessories for Compactors

An elastomer pad, or slip mat, is rubber or polyurethane mounted under the steel baseplate of a plate compactor. It serves three purposes: it damps the vibration transferred from the exciter to the frame and handle, limits slip on hard ground, and protects freshly laid paving and slabs from scratching. Plate compactors work at 5,000–6,000 impacts per minute and a centrifugal force from a dozen to several dozen kN, so a good pad reduces machine wear and improves operator comfort. It is a consumable part that needs periodic replacement.

An elastomer pad is matched to the baseplate width and mounting. The starting point is the machine designation — models such as the Wacker Neuson AP 1850x, Bomag BVP1845 or the Norton Clipper CFP14W and CFP16W series have dedicated pads with matching holes. Measure the width of the steel baseplate (typically 350–500 mm) and the bolt spacing, then compare them with the pad's product page. A pad from another model, even a similar size, may miss the holes and tear off at 5,000–6,000 vibrations per minute. Give us the make and model and we will select a factory-fit part.

A paving-stone kit (paving pad) is a plastic or polyurethane cover fitted to the underside of the steel plate. It is used at the final stage of paving — for seating laid paving blocks, patio slabs or grass pavers, where a bare steel baseplate would leave scratches and chips. The pad is matched to the plate width: for lighter machines this is usually 420 mm (Husqvarna LF 75/80), for wider ones 500 mm (Husqvarna LF 100). The plastic spreads the load evenly, so blocks settle without face damage, and it is fitted after the sub-base is compacted, in place of the working elastomer pad.

A rubber elastomer pad is a slip mat mounted under the plate during the compaction of soil, aggregate and sub-base — it damps vibration and reduces slip, but does not itself protect paving. A paving pad is a cover made of harder plastic or polyurethane, fitted only when seating the finished surface so the blocks are not scratched. The two differ in material and in the moment of use: the elastomer pad works throughout compaction of a 20–40 cm layer of soil, while the paving pad is fitted for the last few passes over the blocks. For a single plate (for example 420 or 500 mm) the two parts are chosen separately.

A Wacker Neuson elastomer pad is matched in baseplate dimensions and hole spacing to Wacker Neuson machines, so it generally will not fit Bomag or Husqvarna plates without checking. Two parameters are decisive: the width of the steel baseplate (typically 350–500 mm) and the spacing and diameter of the bolts (usually 4–8). If another model has an identical width and hole pattern the pad may fit, but do not assume it — pads are designed for specific series. It is safer to pick a dedicated pad — the Bomag BVP1845, or Norton Clipper CFP14W/CFP16W.

Prices depend on the type and brand. Elastomer pads (slip mats) usually fall from a few dozen to a few hundred zloty net, while paving-stone kits — depending on plate width (420 or 500 mm) and pad material — run from around one hundred to several hundred zloty net. Replacing a pad regularly costs a fraction of a new compactor and protects the exciter and baseplate. Current prices and availability of models such as the Wacker Neuson AP 1850x or Husqvarna LF 100 are shown on the product pages.

The elastomer pad is replaced when the rubber is worn, cracked, hardened or torn at the mounting — a loss of elasticity means poorer vibration damping and greater machine wear. Under heavy use the pad typically wears out after one or two seasons or around 100–300 engine hours, and lasts longer with occasional use. Check its condition every few dozen hours of work and always before compacting paving blocks, because a worn pad stops protecting the surface. Replacement for a modest sum is far cheaper than repairing the exciter.

Do this with the engine switched off and cooled down. Undo the bolts holding the worn pad to the steel baseplate (usually 4–8), remove the old rubber and clean the surface of sand and any grease residue. Position the new pad, line up the holes and tighten the bolts evenly to the manufacturer's recommended torque. The whole operation usually takes 15–30 minutes and needs no service centre. After fitting, check the pad does not protrude beyond the baseplate outline by more than a few millimetres — otherwise it tears off sooner.

A paving pad is the basic protection for the face of the blocks while seating the surface. The plastic or polyurethane cover separates the steel baseplate from the blocks and spreads the load evenly, so grass pavers, patio slabs and paving blocks settle without scratches or chips. Effectiveness depends on matching the width — 420 mm for lighter plates, 500 mm for wider ones — and on the cleanliness of the underside, because a grain of sand under the pad can scratch a block. It does not replace the working elastomer pad; fit it only after the sub-base is compacted.

On site it pays to keep a spare elastomer pad matched to your plate model (for example the Wacker Neuson AP 1850x, Bomag BVP1845 or Norton Clipper CFP14W and CFP16W) and a set of paving pads in the widths you use — 420 and 500 mm — if you lay surfaces, plus spare mounting bolts. One spare set per machine avoids downtime when a pad tears off mid-job. Accessories are matched to a specific soil compactor — before buying, note the make, model and baseplate width.