Important Maintenance Tips for Industrial Gearbox

Maintenance at regular intervals is key ensuring long-lasting performance of an industrial gearbox. Preventive and proactive maintenance will help avoid downtime of gearboxes used in your industrial facility. This post discusses easy-to-do proactive and preventive maintenance tips for industrial gearboxes.

Top MaiImportant Maintenance Tips for Industrial Gearbox

Here are a few easy-to-do maintenance tips, which will help keep your industrial gearbox in good working condition.

• Store the Industrial Gearbox in a Dry Place: This is a very important requirement. The gearbox should be stored in a dry area to reduce chances of non-working components. Clean the storage place and equipment regularly. By keeping the equipment and work environment free from dust, dirt, and debris, you can easily reduce your environmental footprint. Always clean the gearbox inspection ports before preparing for an inspection. Inspect the magnetic debris collectors and filter elements as well.
• Check if the Gearbox is Operating as per Manufacturers Specifications: Check if the gearbox is being used as per the manufacturer’s recommended thermal and mechanical ratings. Many times, the gearboxes are operated beyond the manufacturer’s recommended ratings, and are run on higher power than recommended. This affects the performance of the equipment, and also reduces its shelf life.
• Monitor the Temperature Regularly: The temperature of the gearbox should be monitored regularly to avoid overheating. Also, check for temperature fluctuations. The signs of overheating may include foamed sight glass, discoloration of housings, burnt paint marks on the housings, and disfigured plastic components. You can conduct a quick test to check for overheating: Spray water on the gearbox, and check if it evaporates, boils, or crackles. If the water disappears then the gearbox is overheated. Additionally, you can look for signs of pitting in the gear tooth. Pitting is defined as surface pressure. You can correct the surface pressure of the gear tooth by reducing its weight and speed. As a part of preventive maintenance, don’t forget to inspect shafts, magnetic plugs, and bearings.
• Check Breathers: It is seen that dirt, moisture, and debris always enter into the gearbox through the breather. To avoid this, ensure that the right type of breather is used.
• Lubricate Regularly: This is one of the major steps of preventive maintenance. Always use the manufacturer recommended lubricant grade and type in appropriate amounts. The choice of lubricant depends on the temperature and season. Measure the pressure of the lubricant, and check for signs of low lubrication in sight glass, or oil leaks in shaft seals. Oil leaks indicate that the seals may not be working properly, and they require replacement.
• Conduct Vibration Analysis: Most gearboxes operate in noisy environments, so their noise variations may go unnoticed. Any abnormal noise may suggest damaged components. You can conduct regular vibration analysis of the gears and internal bearings to check misalignment of gears, cracks in the element, etc.

For additional tips, and assistance for preventive and proactive maintenance of industrial gearbox, you can always approach an expert. An expert’s assistance will help ensure that your gearbox will perform as desired and provide long-term performance.