Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1412702
www.machinerylubrication.com | September - October 2021 | 17 ML the machine is properly locked out, it is time to locate the best port through which to enter the sump. If you are inspecting gear teeth or a bearing, it might be best to remove the breather port or hatch and enter from the top; this will allow you to inspect more surface area as the camera is sent down. If you want to inspect the bottom of a reservoir, you might enter from a lower port, so you can more effectively scan the bottom portion of the sump. is is a great method to use if a reservoir has just been flushed and you are checking the cleanliness of the bottom of the sump. How to Inspect a Wet Sump with a Borescope ere are many reasons that you might want to inspect a sump without draining the lubricant first, for instance: • A large sump that is not feasible to drain for a quick inspection • A sump that, due to its location, is difficult to drain • A sump that requires frequent inspections between drain intervals For most borescopes, a wet inspection isn't as easy as probing into the sump and having a look around, as some camera heads are not fluid-proof. ere is a work-around for this, though: a piece of PVC pipe with a polycar- bonate window glued to the end will provide a good vehicle to get the camera into the sump without getting it wet. What to Look for Inside When inspecting a machine and its compo- nents with a borescope, you will be looking for the same signs of wear you would look for if you had taken the machine apart. Below are a few components and what you might look for: Gears — e great thing about inspecting gears is the amount of surface that can be viewed. Checking the gear teeth can provide a wealth of information pointing to the condi- tion of the gear. Gear teeth should be inspected for any sign of abrasive fatigue and chemical wear. e gear teeth and side surface of the gear need to be inspected for cracking as well; if any cracking is found, it should be measured (if possible) and checked for any growth on the next inspection. Bearings — With the way elements are positioned in a bearing, there is usually only a small amount of surface area that can be inspected. ere are still many things we can inspect, though, such as positioning (to make sure the bearing is still intact), bearing seals and the rolling elements themselves. Rolling elements should be inspected for the same types of wear as a gear, with special attention paid to any type of pitting. Sumps — It might be a little overwhelming when inspecting tanks and sumps. Because of their size, there can be a lot to look at. A sump's walls should be inspected for varnish and pitting, while the sump floor should be inspected for sludge and any solid contamina- tion that lay on the bottom. Seals — Confirm that seals are still seated and inspect for any obvious ingression or damage. Summary ere is a great deal of information we can gather from performing inspections using borescopes without having to disassemble a machine. ese inspections can even validate data from another inspection tool such as ther- mography or oil analysis. With the ability to save pictures and film after each use, borescopes are a great tool for a reliability program. ML About the Author Travis Richardson is a technical consultant for Noria Corporation. He holds a Level II Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) certifi- cation and a Level III Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Travis at trichardson@noria.com.