January 21, 2004

Today's Tip : Coupling Grease Application

When changing the lubricating grease in a geared motor coupling, always apply a full coating of grease to the teeth of the coupling. Never fill the coupling housing completely with a grease gun due to expansion of the grease as the motor comes up to running temperature.This expansion of the grease will apply internal coupling pressure pushing the motor shaft off magnetic center and onto the thrust surface of your bearing, causing bearings to overheat and lead to early bearing failure.

Even after hand packing the coupling, the motor should be run up to operating temperature then shut down and the grease plug removed to allow excess grease and pressure to be released. (Submitted by Wesley Jacobs, Director of Maintenance Services, Missouri American Water Company. Thanks Wesley!)


CONGRATULATIONS to Mike Meeks, Reliability Engineer, Weyerhaeuser - the winner of last week's Readers Challenge - Is Turbine Flush Justified. See the winning response, as well as other responses here.

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


 

Book Bits: Turbine Fluid Maintenance

From "Turbine Lubrication in the 21st Century"

As with existing turbine oils it is necessary to adequately maintain phosphates in order to ensure efficient operation of the system and an acceptable fluid life. The parameters that are of most concern are the increase in acidity, water content and particulate contamination level. When triaryl phosphates degrade, the most common result is an increase in acidity with little effect on viscosity change. Consequently, this latter property is not one that requires regular attention. Water and acidity, however, need monitoring. To date there are no specifications for used fire-resistant turbine lubricants but there is a tendency to adopt the limits already in existence for phosphate esters when used as turbine control fluids, i.e. a maximum acidity of 0.2-0.3 mgKOH/g.

More information about the book "Turbine Lubrication
in the 21st Century"

 

Lube-Trivia: Destructive States of Water


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

QUESTION: Which does more harm to the oil, its additives and oil-wetted machine surfaces: dissolved or emulsified water?

Get the answer here.

 

Q & A: Know When to Change Filters

"Is the filter blockage indicator the optimum change point for the element?"

No, this is not necessarily the best indication, although it is better than ignoring the indicator. For example, keep in mind that a rupture in the filter media will not be indicated by an increase in pressure drop. If a cleanliness target is set, and this is regularly monitored by a particle counting program, then change the filter when the cleanliness target is exceeded.

However, ensure that this is actually the cause of the problem by taking upstream and downstream counts, as well as ensuring the target has not been exceeded because of other ingression sources such as a failed breather.

Also consider monitoring the differential pressure rather than just watching the indicator, as experience gained with particle counting will show what pressure is the optimum change point.

Submit a question

Resources

 


JANUARY 2004

Oil Analysis I
27-29 Monterrey, Mexico

FEBRUARY 2004

Oil Analysis I
9-10 Reno, NV
11-13 Daegu, Korea
16-17 Brisbane, Australia
23-24 Chester, Cheshire UK

Oil Analysis II
11-12 Reno, NV
18-19 Brisbane, Australia
25-26 Chester, Cheshire UK

Machinery Lubrication I
9-10 Reno, NV
18-19 Leon, Mexico

Machinery Lubrication II
11-12 Reno, NV

MARCH 2004

Oil Analysis I
29-30 Sunninghill, Johannesburg, South Africa

Oil Analysis II
31 - Apr 1 Sunninghill, Johannesburg, South Africa

Machinery Lubrication I
1-2 New Orleans, LA
1-2 Chester, Cheshire UK
15-16 Brisbane, Australia

Machinery Lubrication II
3-4 New Orleans, LA
3-4 Chester, Cheshire UK
17-18 Brisbane, Australia

Contamination Control
9-11 Chester, Cheshire UK

Lubrication Excellence 2004 Conference
23-25 Nashville, TN

Entire training calendar | Course links

 

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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.

© 1998-2004 Noria Corporation

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