In This Issue:

• Today's Tip: Slight Vacuum Solves Problem

• Book Bits: Smaller Particles Accelerate Oxidation

• Lube-Trivia: Sphere-Shaped Particles in Your Oil?

• Q & A: How to Sample Gearbox Oil

Today's Tip

Slight Vacuum Solves Problem

• Have you ever threaded in a drain plug not quite right, or had the drain plug washer not seat properly but you didn't want to drain all the new oil out? For many small-sump machines (gearboxes, etc.) you can apply suction via a shop vac with a clean rag over the fill hole that will create a vacuum allowing you to momentarily remove the drain plug and reinsert a new one with hardly a drop lost. (Submitted by Steve Weinberg, director of training, Oil Can Henry's. Thanks Steve!)

Each tip published will earn the sender $50. Submit your tip.

Book Bits

Smaller Particles Accelerate Oxidation

From "Fluid Contamination Control"

Oxidation drastically affects the quality of a fluid. The following conditions promote the oxidation process:

• Presence of oxygen (aeration)

• Mechanical agitation

• High pressure

• High temperature

• Catalysts (water and metal particles)

Metals and various mechanical impurities act as catalysts in accelerating oxidation. The smaller the particle, the greater the surface area represented in the population and the more effective the catalyst.

More information about the book "Fluid Contamination Control"

Lube-Trivia

Sphere-Shaped Particles in Your Oil?

Test your knowledge and prepare for ICML lubrication and oil analysis certification with Lube-Trivia.

QUESTION: What are possible sources of spherical particles in oil?

For the answer, visit: http://www.lube-tips.com/trivia/20031105.asp

Q & A

How to Sample Gearbox Oil

"We recently began sampling seven main gearboxes. We have a drain valve on the bottom and a siphon tube mechanism with which to take the sample. Which method is preferred? Drain from the bottom, or siphon from the top?"

The most accurate and repeatable method is to sample gearbox lube oil from the drain. To do this effectively you will need to permanently install a minimess-style sample port that comes equipped with a tube extension.

The tube extension will allow the sample to be drawn from within the gearbox sump and away from the sump floor and wall, and away from the drain where debris can collect in high concentrations. Because it is permanently installed, the sample comes from the same location in the sump every time a sample is taken.

Hardware - The type of hardware you should install is a steel assembly made up of a minimess sample port and a tube extension. The minimess sample port should have a dust cap, a sample port ID tag and be constructed of plated steel or stainless. The tube extension is fitted to the minimess port. It should be constructed of plated steel or stainless and long enough to reach into the gearbox. It should be made of 3/16-inch or 1/4-inch tube that can be bent and cut if needed.

Location - The best place to take an oil sample from a gearbox is as close to the gearset as possible. Using a minimess sample port with tube extension will allow you to mount the sample port in the drain and manipulate the tube so that it terminates exactly where you want it.

The rule of thumb for installing sample port tube extensions is to keep the end of the tube at least two inches away from any static or dynamic surface.

Operation - Drawing a sample using a minimess sample port with a tube extension requires a few tools. You will need a vacuum pump, a sample port adapter with hose barb, sample tube, sample bottles and a flushing bottle. The vacuum pump will help draw the oil out of the sump and into the sample bottle.

You will need to flush the entire combination of tube extension, minimess sample port, sample port adapter and sample tube before you take your sample for analysis. The standard rule of thumb is to flush at least 10 times the volume of all the components prior to taking the sample for analysis. This typically works out to three or four ounces of fluid for a sample port with a tube extension of 12 inches.

All the items from vendors are listed on our Web site at http://www.noria.com/buyersguide/vendor1.asp

Jason Kopschinsky, Technical Consultant, Noria Corporation

Submit your question here.

Please Forward This Issue to a Friend

If you haven't already done so, please forward this issue to one or two of your friends or business associates. Thanks so much!