Maintaining equipment, no matter the size or parts, is the best way to get a great return on your investment. When you are thinking about your pump or motor, the bearings, seals and gaskets are no exception. Preventative measures can save you money, time and effort by minimizing wear and tear on your equipment over time. Let’s take a look at some ways you can ensure process reliability by protecting your gaskets, seals and bearings with preventative pump maintenance.
Pump Bearings
It is essential to routinely examine changes in lubrication, vibration, temperature and noise of your pump/motor to determine that your pump bearings are operating properly. There could be several factors affecting the performance of pump/motor bearings. Your environment, speed, loading and lubrication can all determine how much stress it handles and how long the bearings last. By taking notice of changes, you can prevent damage that could extend well beyond the pump/motor bearings.
To start, consider the noises coming from a pump/motor. Take the time to evaluate any unusual sounds, as many times, you will hear uncharacteristic noises from pump/motor bearings if there is damage, poor lubrication, contamination or excessive clearance.
Vibration with your pump/motor bearings is likely caused by an imbalance, misalignment or play. Use standard practices to evaluate the vibrations, such as recording the vibration data and vibration acceleration. It’s common for pump/motor bearings to have an increased magnitude of vibration when the bearings are damaged or worn.
Measuring the temperature of a pump/motor bearing is also an effective strategy to determine its condition. In addition, nowadays most pump/motor bearings are sealed and do not require lubrication. Before pumping grease into your bearings please consult with the staff at Yarbrough Industries as this could cause failures due to excessive grease buildup in the motor windings.
Maintaining Seals
When choosing seals for your equipment, consult with the staff at Yarbrough Industries to ensure that you’re using the proper seals. In most cases, seals are inexpensive, but are crucial to maximizing the efficiency and life cycle of your pump/motor.
Gaskets
When a gasket fails, it’s most likely due to improper installation, lack of maintenance, improper hardware or improper gasket selection. When choosing a gasket, for maximum efficiency, you’ll want to select one that contracts and expands at the same rate as the metal in your pump, especially during low or high-temperature thermal cycling. Doing so, helps prevent sealing loss. You’ll also want to minimize damage to your gaskets by using gaskets with higher-sealability that are designed to prevent leaking. When a liquid is present on the sealing surface, chances of the liquid causing erosion to the pump are increased, leading to a corrosive environment for your equipment.
Evaluating, assessing and troubleshooting problems with gaskets, bearings and seals can significantly impact how well your system operates. While these parts may not be large components, they play a vital part in your system’s overall efficiency. Preventative maintenance and routine assessments are crucial to extend the life of your equipment and the staff at Yarbrough Industries is here to assist with your service needs.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you update your equipment and understand more about the importance of maintaining your pump/motor bearings, seals and gaskets.
