Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/756816
40 | November - December 2016 | www.machinerylubrication.com THE "LUBE-TIPS" SECTION OF MACHINERY LUBRICATION MAGAZINE FEATURES INNOVATIVE ideas submitted by our readers. Additional tips can be found in our Lube-Tips email newsletter. If you have a tip to share, email it to editor@noria.com. To receive the Lube-Tips newsletter, subscribe now at www.MachineryLubrication.com/page/subscriptions. Use a Camera for Better Oil Analysis Put your cellphone camera to good use by taking a photograph of an oil sample (if using a trans- parent sample bottle) and storing the image in a trending software for comparative purposes. Record a new oil sample and use this as a baseline. Set the bottle against a white background, like a sheet of paper, to maintain a consistent color comparison. You can also use your camera in other ways, such as to record images of the machine and sampling point as a means of identifying them in the software or to record abnormalities such as excessive leakages for easy loca - tion by mechanics. Pictures are immediate and speak volumes, so use them to good effect in reports and trending software. Advice for Replacing Brake Fluid Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic, which means it absorbs mois- ture from the atmosphere. Apart from the obvious corrosion potential this presents to the master and slave cylinders, it also degrades the fluid's high-temperature performance. This results in the fluid boiling at a lower temperature, leading to the loss of fluid power when pressing the brake pedal. Follow the manufac- turer's recommendations and change the fluid regularly. Synthetic silicon-based brake fluid is more expensive but does not need to be replaced as often. As custom and classic car owners know, it also does not damage the paint work. How to Identify Suction Line Leaks Suction line leaks can cause air entrainment and lead to prob- lems such as excessive aeration, air lock, pump cavitation, poor lubrication and premature oil degradation. However, a pinhole- sized suction line leak can be hard to find. Using a small amount of shaving foam sprayed over the suspected leak area can indicate the source of the problem, as the foam will be drawn into the line. This method should not be used for large leaks, and care should be taken to not use too much soap, as this could contaminate the lube and result in foaming, aeration problems and poor demulsibility. Tips for Lifting and Carrying Oil Drums Always ensure the correct lifting and carrying equipment is available. Avoid lowering oil drums onto any small, sharp objects. These objects can pierce an oil drum and cause leakage, which if unnoticed, could pose a safety risk to the person moving the drum as well as other colleagues. Don't Overlook an Oil's Cloud Point Viscosity is not the only issue associated with a high pressure drop across filters on startup. It might also have to do with the fact that the oil does not have a high enough cloud point. For indoor equipment where filter elements are involved, this can be much more important than the pour point. The cloud point is the point where you can first see wax coming out of solution. If you can see the wax, then you know that the filter will also see it. In most cases, the wax goes back into solution as the oil warms up. There is generally not a good correlation between cloud point and pour point because pour point depressants (additives used to lower the pour point) enter into the picture. Protect Sensitive Components with a Relief Valve Protection or "last-chance" filters are designed to protect contaminant-sensitive work-end components like servo valves, but they are not normally equipped with a bypass option. There- fore, ensure there is a relief valve with a return to the tank to protect the pump and avoid bursting the filter. Take Precau- tions with Reconditioned Oil Drums If your supplier is reusing your oil drums, you might ask them to provide you with documentation showing that the drums are being reconditioned using a standardized procedure, including periodic inspection tests. If the supplier cannot provide this information, you might consider specifying that all products be sent in new drums, help them find a viable reconditioning resource, suggest that liners be used or find a new supplier. Benefits of Using a Diffuser A diffuser fitted to the return line of a tank can reduce foaming, oxidation and aeration, as well as decrease the risk of cavitation. It can also lessen the potential for varnish, erratic fluid flow, spongy hydraulics and overheating.