Regular maintenance of your industrial gearbox is the best way to determine what repairs it may need. Preventive industrial gearbox maintenance will help you avoid a breakdown in production and keep your business up and running. Both proactive maintenance when something is wrong and preventative maintenance are important in keeping your gearbox in top condition. The following are some maintenance tips you will find helpful in keeping your industrial gearbox in great shape.
Keep the workplace and your equipment free of dirt, dust, and debris. Gearbox inspection ports should be clean before opening. Always close the port after inspection to prevent any dirt from entering. Inspect filter elements and magnetic debris collectors as well. Store your gearbox on a solid foundation in a dry, low-humidity area. This environment will help keep your unit in good condition and reduce the chances of its components breaking down.
Maintenance includes checking for proper lubrication on your industrial gearbox. Use the recommended lubricant type and grade, and the correct amount. Industrial gearboxes will need a different type of oil depending on the season and temperature. Also, look for signs of oil leaks at shaft seals, measure the oil pressure, and check for low oil in the sight glass.
Ensure the industrial gearbox temperature is monitored regularly to prevent overheating. You should also keep a record of temperature fluctuations. Signs of overheating include burned paint on housings or discoloration, smoke, foam in the sight glass, and melted plastic components. Another sign is water that evaporates fast, boils, or crackles when sprayed on your gearbox.
Look for signs of wear on your industrial gearbox, such as pitting from the gear tooth. Pitting is a sign of surface stresses. Decrease weight loads and speed to alleviate some of the surface pressure. You should also inspect magnetic plugs, shafts, and bearings for wear as part of your preventative maintenance.
Regularly check for unusual noises coming from your industrial gearbox. Do a vibration test if the work environment is too noisy. This maintenance test will show any changes in movement or misalignment of the gears. Movement can happen, for example, if there are cracks in the element.
Usually breakdowns are a result of over stressed, worn down, or old equipment. The gear tooth can break for either of these reasons somewhere at the shaft, the side of tooth, or the root fillet of the tooth. Preventive maintenance includes reducing stresses, using the correct lubricants, using more resilient couplings, and controlling torque.
Be sure to choose the correct gearbox size. A leading cause of equipment failure is using an improper size. Ensure your industrial gearbox is sized correctly for the tasks you need in order to prevent frequent breakdowns.
At Amarillo Gear Service, we work with our clients to ensure their gearboxes remain operational for the duration of their intended lifespan. We ensure that every unit we refurbish and repair leaves our facilities in near-new condition. If we notice potential causes of failure during the repair stage, we notify clients immediately. The result is that many of our gearboxes perform better once they are returned and are less prone to damage and further problems.
Give us a call today at (806) 622-1273 for more information about our repair services. You can also Contact Us by email and view the regions we service. We will be happy to give you the answers you need to ensure your operations don’t come to a halt because your gearbox stops working.
