Chemical Pump Maintenance

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The Importance of Lubrication

All pump bearings will fail eventually [4]. More often than not, however, this will be due to a failure of the lubricating medium rather than to any intrinsic problem with the bearing. It is therefore important to pay particular attention to bearing lubrication so as to maximize bearing life and, by extension, pump life.

For oil-lubricated bearings use only non-foaming and non-detergent oils. The proper oil level is at the mid-point of the bull’s-eye sight glass on the side of the bearing frame. Avoid over-lubrication, which can be just as damaging as under-lubrication: excess oil will cause a slightly higher power draw and generate additional heat, which can cause frothing of the oil. Any cloudiness in the oil generally indicates that condensation has caused the water content of the oil to rise above 2,000 ppm. If this is the case, change the oil immediately.

For re-greaseable bearings never mix greases of differing consistencies or types. Also note that the shields must be located toward the interior of the bearing frame. When re-greasing, ensure that the bearing fittings are absolutely clean as any contamination will decrease bearing life. Avoid over-greasing as this can cause localized high temperatures in the bearing races and create caked solids.

After re-greasing, the bearings may run slightly hotter for an hour or two.

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