Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/793941
A Better Way to Filter Contaminants When improving fluid cleanliness, it is much easier (and cheaper) to exclude contaminants by ensuring seals, vents and breathers are in good shape rather than to filter out contaminants when they are already inside a component. Use a full-flow spin oil filter (with an appropriate beta rating) as an air filter. Because the differential pressure across an air filter is lower than across a full- flow oil filter, oil filters are typically more efficient at removing particles from the air than they are from oil. Check Soap Residue When Switching Greases When converting from one grease to another, it may be helpful to determine how much soap residue you have residing in bearing housings and how much flushing will be necessary to eliminate the old material. If the amount of old material is low and the residue is soft and pliable, then you may be able to simply increase the relube frequency, perhaps doubling the cycle for a while to flush out the old grease. Cap Disconnected Hoses During Maintenance Always ensure that disconnected hoses are capped while mainte- nance is taking place. It is surprising how much debris can enter an open pipe. This will find its way into the system in short order, causing accelerated wear. When to Use Silicone Synthetics Silicone synthetic lubricants are used when resistance to oxida- tion, heat and/or water is important and the performance of other types of lubricants is unacceptable. Applications include high-tem- perature grease and the lubrication of oxygen compressors. Negatives for using silicone synthetics include high cost, poor boundary lubrication and poor additive solvency (they don't accept extreme-pressure and anti-wear additives). Selecting a Grease to Prevent Corrosion In a humid environment, condensate can form in rolling-ele- ment bearings and cause corrosion, leading to a reduction of the bearing life. By carefully choosing the grease lubricant, you can reduce the effect of the condensed moisture. Greases thickened with sodium soap will absorb (emulsify) large quantities of water but may soften it to such an extent that the grease flows out of the bearing. Lithium soap greases do not emulsify water, but with suit - able additives can provide good protection against corrosion. There are also numerous greases with synthetic thickeners that offer excellent protection against corrosion, prolonging the bearing life. Advice for Gearbox Oil Changes When changing oil in a gearbox, put an air wand (from shop air or portable air source) down into the vent plug. This blows oil residue and deposits off the surface of the gear teeth and casing. It also pushes sediment off the case bottom. You may wish to hold up a shield to keep the splatter down. Afterward, flush the gearbox with a lower viscosity oil of the same type for a few minutes and then drain again using the air wand. With this method, the oil in the sight glass will look like a new gearbox with very little residue. The procedure is faster as well. Why Viscosity Index Is Important As the temperature of a gear oil increases, its ability to support a load decreases. This is due to the thinning effect that temperature has on the viscosity. The rate of change differs for each oil and is expressed in an oil's viscosity index (VI) number. The higher the VI number, the lower the rate of change. If you have a hot gearbox that seems to have a low reliability rating, you might check to see if the oil has a suitable VI and is capable of holding up under the high temperatures. If the product's VI is less than 120, as shown on the product data sheet, then you might consider an alternative oil for the high-temperature, heavily loaded application. Tips for Repacking Grease Guns When repacking grease guns from a pressure line, wipe down the fitting and the pressure line to prevent contamination. When repacking with tubes, move to an environmentally controlled area, such as a control room, to replace the tube. 32 | March - April 2017 | 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.