Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1148092
44 | July - August 2019 | www . machinerylubrication.com BACK PAGE BASICS Grease guns should be calibrated before being placed into service and every 12 months after being put into service. ere are many grease gun options on the market. Choose the ones that will work best for your plant and personnel. Regardless of the model you purchase, each grease gun should be labeled to indicate the lubricant to which it is dedicated. If possible, it also is recommended that the grease gun's barrel be clear. is will allow you to visually check whether the correct grease tube is in the gun before you apply lubricant to your equipment. How to Properly Use a Grease Gun Now that you know how to store and handle your grease guns, the real work begins. How do you get the grease from the grease gun into your equipment? is will require attention to detail. If you skip one step in the process, you risk introducing contaminants and overgreasing or undergreasing your equipment. First, verify that you are at the correct lube point, have the correct grease and grease gun in hand, and that the equipment is in the proper operating state (running or shut down) to safely perform the procedure. Next, calculate the maximum number of pumps to apply by dividing the regreasing volume by the average volume per pump of the grease gun. After confi rming that you are at the right place with the right lubricant and know the right amount, remove the grease fi tting cap (if it exists) and clean the grease fi tting with a lint-free cloth or towel. en, inspect the fi tting for damage or wear. You can do this by simply pressing down on the BB to ensure it depresses and springs back quickly. If it is damaged, replace the fi tting immediately before proceeding. After determining the lube point is in good working order and ready to be lubricated, remove the purge plug and connect the grease gun's coupling to the grease fi tting. Do not hold the hose near the coupling due to the risk of injury. Manual grease guns can generate considerable pressure. If the hose fails, grease can penetrate most gloves and even your skin. High-pressure injection wounds are serious injuries. If left untreated or when treatment is delayed, they can result in extensive medical procedures. If the coupling does not attach securely, it must be replaced. Once everything is connected, you are ready to apply the grease. Slowly pump grease into the bearing. Each pump should take three to fi ve seconds. Continue pumping until you reach the maximum volume of the regreasing amount or feel abnormal back pressure. If you experience signifi cant back pressure, the passageway may be blocked with caked thickener. Don't try to force the grease into the equipment. is likely will result in either the coupling disengaging from the fi tting or blowing a seal in the equipment. Keep in mind that manual grease guns can produce pressures up to 15,000 pounds per square inch (psi), and lip seals can fail at 500 psi. If greasing an electric motor, you risk collapsing shields and getting grease into the windings. Any time you feel excessive back pressure, a correc- tive work order should be created and completed to resolve the issue before the equipment is regreased. When using ultrasonic tools, listen to the machine before regreasing. If the equipment is within an acceptable decibel range, do not apply new grease. When adding grease, regrease until either the decibel level remains in range after applying small amounts of grease or you have applied the maximum amount of grease for a regreasing event. Stop when either of these two criteria have been met. After the component has been properly regreased, disconnect the grease gun coupling from the equipment and clean the grease point. If the equipment has a grease cap, replace the cap on the grease fi tting. If it doesn't have a cap, place a small dollop of grease on the fi tting. e dollop should be big enough to cover the entire grease fi tting but not too large that it becomes a hinderance to clean later. Fina lly, a f ter you have completed regreasing, wait approximately 10-30 minutes before putting the purge plug back into the equipment. is will allow any excess grease to leave the grease cavity. Don't worry if grease doesn't purge out when you have applied the maximum amount of lubricant. e most important thing to remember when storing or using your grease guns and lubricants is to keep all your lubrication equipment clean, cool and dry. is will help to maximize the longevity of your grease. Also, don't forget to label everything, which is what I did when packing up my house. Your team shouldn't have to play hide-and-seek for the items they need, because they likely will just use whatever is readily available, and then you will be right back where you started. ML About the Author Devin Jarrett is a success manager at Noria Corporation. He holds a Level II Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) certifi cation and a Level III Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) certifi cation through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Devin at djarrett@noria.com to learn how Noria can help ensure your grease guns are used and stored properly. 70% of lubrication profes- sionals most frequently use a manual grease gun, according to a recent survey at MachineryLubrication.com