Machinery Lubrication India Jan Feb 14 10 | Page 11
COVER STORY
plate and weigh it on a digital scale. Next, divide the weight
of the grease by 10. This will give you the amount per stroke
of output. Remember, certain grease guns can produce
pressures up to 15,000 psi and can cause numerous
problems if not properly managed.
The Remedy
While calculating the regrease requirements for all bearings
onsite and determining the output of grease guns are a
great place to start, there are other concerns that must be
addressed as well. For instance, the output of grease can
vary between guns. The best way to counteract this problem
is to standardize with a single type of grease gun so the
output will be similar for each one. Grease guns should also
be dedicated to a single type of grease and checked at least
once a year.
If possible, bearings should be outfitted with grease purge
fittings that allow excess grease to be expelled without
compromising the integrity of the seal. In addition, all
professionals who operate a grease gun should be trained
on their operation and the proper way to regrease a bearing.
4. Lack of a Labeling System
Labeling is a key part of any world-class lube program. Not
only does it reduce the chance for cross-contamination by
minimizing confusion as to which lubricants go where, it
also allows individuals who may not be as familiar with the
lube program to top-up with the correct oil or grease.
Of course, labels can be used for more than just identifying
lubricants. On a recent project, the lube labels were
barcoded to allow all assets in the plant to be integrated
into the computerized maintenance management system
(CMMS) for automatic work-order generation. Although
labeling assets is a great first step, a true world-class
program would label everything from machines and top-up
containers to bulk containers, grease guns and so on.
Basically, anything that touches a lubricant should be
labeled and dedicated to a single lubricant.
The Remedy
Developing a labeling scheme takes time, but when done
properly, it can provide a variety of information not only
about the lubricant but als