MACHINERY LUBRICATION- INDIA MARCH-APRIL 2020 | Page 30

BACK PAGE BASICS remove the grease fitting cap (if it exists) and clean the grease fitting with a lint-free cloth or towel. Then, inspect the fitting for damage or wear. You can do this by simply pressing down on the BB to ensure it depresses and springs back quickly. If it is damaged, replace the fitting immediately before proceeding. After determining the lube point is in good working order and ready to be lubricated, remove the purge plug and connect the grease gun’s coupling to the grease fitting. Do not hold the hose near the coupling due to the risk of injury. Manual grease guns can generate considerable pressure. If the hose fails, grease can penetrate most gloves and even your skin. High-pressure injection wounds are serious injuries. If left untreated or when treatment is delayed, they can result in extensive medical procedures. If the coupling does not attach securely, it must be replaced. Once everything is connected, you are ready to apply the grease. Slowly pump grease into the bearing. Each pump should take three to five seconds. Continue pumping until you reach the maximum volume of the regreasing amount or feel abnormal back pressure. If you experience significant back pressure, the passageway may be blocked with caked thickener. Don’t try to force the grease into the equipment. This likely will result in either the coupling disengaging from the fitting or blowing a seal in the equipment. Keep in mind that manual grease guns can produce pressures up to 40 MPa and lip seals 4 MPa. If greasing an electric motor, you risk collapsing shields and getting grease into the windings. Any time you feel excessive back pressure, a corrective work order should be created and completed to resolve the issue before the equipment is regreased. When using ultrasonic tools, listen to the machine before regreasing. If the 28 | March - April 2020 | equipment is within an acceptable decibel range, do not apply new grease. When adding grease, regrease until either the decibel level remains in range after applying small amounts of grease or you have applied the maximum amount of grease for a regreasing event. Stop when either of these two criteria have been met. After the component has been properly regreased, disconnect the grease gun coupling from the equipment and clean the grease point. If the equipment has a grease cap, replace the cap on the grease fitting. If it doesn’t have a cap, place a small dollop of grease on the fitting. The dollop should be big enough to cover the entire grease fitting but not too large that it becomes a hinderance to clean later. Finally, after you have completed regreasing, wait approximately 10-30 minutes before putting the purge plug back into the equipment. This will allow any excess grease to leave the grease cavity. Don’t worry if grease doesn’t purge out www.machinerylubricationindia.com when you have applied the maximum amount of lubricant. The most important thing to remember when storing or using your grease guns and lubricants is to keep all your lubrication equipment clean, cool and dry. This will help to maximize the longevity of your grease. Also, don’t forget to label everything, which is what I did when packing up my house. Your team shouldn’t have to play hide-and-seek for the items they need, because they likely will just use whatever is readily available, and then you will be right back where you started. ML About the Author Devin Jarrett is a success manager at Noria Corporation. He holds a Level II Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) certification and a Level III Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Devin at [email protected] to learn how Noria can help ensure your grease guns are used and stored properly.