Back to Lube-Tips™ Back Issues.

Machinery Lubrication Magazine Reliable Plant Magazine Motor Oil Selection Guide Synthetic Oil Resources

Q & A

"Our gearboxes operate in a humid environment, is there anyway we can effectively protect against moisture ingress?"

Common sense is the key to success. Here are some steps:

1. Educate maintenance staff to avoid direct jetting of water at ingression points such as shaft seals and breathers, etc.

2. If water spray is inevitable, use passive shields and deflectors to avoid direct water spray on shafts, dip sticks, fill-caps, breathers, etc.

3. Use high performance seals that suffer less wear and offer better protection against contaminants.

4. Regularly inspect and maintain gaskets on fill-caps, hatches, etc.

5. Replace dip-sticks with level indicators.

6. Keep hatches closed tight.

7. Replace basic vent breather with a desiccant breather, which dehydrates incoming air, or an expansion chamber, which allows the system to breath without ingesting external air.

Today's Tip

• Protection, or "last chance," filters are designed to protect contaminant sensitive work-end components like servo valves, but they are not normally equipped with a by-pass option. Therefore, ensure there is a relief valve with a return to tank to protect the pump and avoid bursting the filter.

Each tip published will earn the sender $10. Send your tips to webmaster@noria.com or fax to 918-746-0925.

Book Bits

From the book "The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication":

Create an Oil Analysis Performance Standard

We have all heard the words of ignorance that when it comes to lubrication "oil is oil." Such folklore has been discarded by leading maintenance organizations that go to great lengths to create sophisticated performance standards used for both the selection and purchasing of lubricants. This practice ensures that the right lubricant is applied to the right application and that the lubricant supplied meets this pre-engineered performance specification.

This same concept works equally well for oil analysis, as it is equally false that "oil analysis is oil analysis." There needs to be a pre-engineered task description of the work to be done - basically an oil analysis performance standard. The performance standard can encompass plant level activities (defining procedures and best practices) as well as requirements for the lab. After all, when it comes to best practice, knowing is not doing.

There are distinct benefits to creating a performance standard prior to engaging the services of an oil analysis lab, including the onsite lab. Specifically, the expectations of the user (client) is not left to perception but is instead detailed in writing and can be discussed thoroughly in advance. This prevents misunderstandings and conflict as the program proceeds. The task description, or standard, is best written by someone with prior experience and education in the field and needs to reflect specific program goals. A buying team can also provide collective input to the creation of the standard.

The following are a few suggested subjects that might be covered in an oil analysis standard and discussed with candidate labs:

1. The routine tests to be conducted for each machine category.

2. The exception or confirmation tests to be conducted when alarms are experienced.

3. The length of time unused oil will be retained by the lab.

4. The turnaround time for routine and exception testing.

5. The manner in which data will be reported, e.g., paper report, faxes, electronically, calls for criticals, etc.

6. The information to be included on oil analysis reports.

7. How limits will be set and alarms communicated.

8. Discussion of expectations regarding quality assurance (e.g., ISO 9002, Guide 25).

9. Supply of bottles, types, sizes, cleanliness, etc.

10. Availability of software or suitable data links with independent oil analysis software.

11. The manner in which test report comments are generated (computer, analyst, combination, etc.).

12. Minimum frequency of site visits by the lab analyst.

You can download "How to Establish a Win-Win Relationship With Your Oil Analysis Lab" and other e-files from: http://www.noria.com/secure/ebooks.asp

Copyright © 2001, Noria Corporation. All rights reserved. Please do not reprint or host on your website without explicit permission. However, if you found this newsletter helpful, we grant you permission, and strongly encourage you, to e-mail it to a business associate or a friend. Thank you. The presence of advertising in Lube-Tips does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services in such ads. Further, because results will vary widely based on a number of factors, Noria Corporation cannot warrant the results, the accuracy or the completeness of any material published herein.

Lube-Tips is published by Noria Corporation. Oil Analysis and Lubrication Experts