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Developing a Motor Bearing Regreasing Strategy
Jason Stevens, Maintenance Supervisor, Cargill
Incorporated
We would first set-up the motors on an ultrasonic route basis
the plants asset criticality. An experienced ultrasound technician
would be able to identify the motors that need immediate attention,
greasing. We would start with these motors and determine, through
the manufacturer, the type of bearings and grease initially installed,
also the regreasing interval, if any.
Using an ultrasonic tool as a guide, we would give the motor
half the recommended lube quantity of the proper type, making
sure to purge off any old grease if possible. We would take ultrasonic
readings and temperature readings for a couple of shifts after
this.
If the ultrasonic reading was still bad, we would regrease again
to the full recommended quantity and monitor, if still bad, again
to 1.5 and 2 times the recommended regreasing quantity, making
sure to purge off all excess grease.
If we still have bad readings, we would confirm bearing problems
with other PdM technologies, such as vibration analysis, to plan
and schedule the motor for a changeout. Once the bad actors were
taken care off, we would start looking at setting up the old and
new motors on some type of time based lubrication rounds, taking
into account the environment the motor operates in, if regreasing
is possible, and the type of grease first installed.
The ultrasonic readings would still happen on a routine basis,
depending on the plant environment, and we would adjust the lubrication
frequency basis what the ultrasound rounds tell us.
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