MAINTENANCE OF MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

Lubricant Supply. Proper bearing design and material are necessary to achieve long service life but

are not by themselves sufficient. The lubricant is the key component of the system which
determines bearing life. Reduced to simplest terms, if a sleeve bearing is provided with an adequate
flow of the proper clean lubricant, long life should be realized.

Lubricant flow to the bearings is a function of the equipment design. Oil pressure at specified

speeds should be within the limits given by the equipment builder. Lower values suggest worn
bearings.

In this case, replacement should be made as soon as is feasible. Excessive pressures indicate a

blockage or restriction somewhere in the system. This should be investigated immediately. The oil

level also should be checked on a routine basis to avoid pump cavitation and subsequent oil
starvation.

In nonpressurized lube systems, reservoirs should be checked on a regular schedule to ensure that

adequate oil is always present. Wick-fed bearings, such as those in fractional horsepower electric

motors, should be lubricated periodically according to the schedule called for by the manufacturer.

Cleanliness. Sleeve bearings simply cannot survive without adequate lubrication. Once this is

assured, the next most important consideration is the cleanliness of the lubricant. Since minimum

film thickness is so small, the presence of oil-borne debris can greatly accelerate the wear process.

If foreign materials such as metal chips and abrasives are large and numerous, bearing failure can

occur rapidly. It is therefore of the utmost importance to change the lubricant in accordance with
the

equipment builder’s recommendations. The lubricant filter, if one is used, also must be replaced

according to schedule. The air filter, if one is present, should be serviced at recommended intervals,

for airborne contamination is a primary source of vitreous abrasives that find their way into the oil.

If the equipment is operated for extended periods in dirty or dusty environments, more frequent

lubricant and filter changes should be adopted. Usually the equipment builder has established
recommended
change frequencies under these conditions. If not, a good practice is to make changes at

intervals from one-third to one-half of that normally recommended.

Lubricant contamination can occur in storage as well. However, simple good housekeeping, such

as covering open containers and reservoirs tightly to exclude dirt and water, and keeping anything

which contacts the lubricant (oil can, funnels, etc.) as clean as possible will prevent problems.

Lubricant Type. Ensuring an adequate flow of clean lubricant makes long bearing life possible but

does not guarantee it. The oil must be the proper one for the application. From a bearing
performance viewpoint, lubricant viscosity is the most important parameter. Lower-viscosity (i.e.,
thinner) oils reduce oil film thickness. This increases the wear rate and can possibly lead to failure. It
is critical that the equipment manufacturer’s lubricant recommendations be followed.

In addition, the proper combination of oil additives is necessary to prevent rapid breakdown,

thickening, foaming, and sludging. All these effects can lead to bearing failure, as well as to the
damage of other components. Failure to use the recommended lubricant can have dire
consequences and, in most cases, voids the equipment warranty. Extended drain intervals should
not be adopted without a strictly monitored oil analysis program.

1. Plain bearings
2. Roller- element bearing
3. Flexible couplings for power transmission
4. Chains for power transmission
5. Belt drives
6. Mechanical variable speed drives
7. Gear drives and speed reducers
8. Other parts in motion