Maintaining Gear Box Lubrication

What's the Best Strategy for
Maintaining Gear Box Lubrication?

Gear cases, usually made of aluminum or steel, house gear systems that change the direction of mechanical energy that's input to the gear assembly. Though gear operation is usually enclosed and not visible during system operation, inspecting and maintaining gear box lubrication is vital to the successful operation and longevity of equipment, and to controlling costs.

It's all about smooth gear operation, after all, and in order to achieve this, shop personnel are the first line of defense in maintaining the gear case. The two most common symptoms of gear case problems are an increase in noise coming from the gear case and a tendency to overheat.

Inspect for Color, Foam, Blockages, Leaks
Whether for scheduled maintenance or emergency service, the first step is a visual inspection of the gear case and its surroundings. As with all machinery, cleanliness counts, so the first thing maintenance personnel should do -- after checking for fluid leaks -- is remove contaminants from around the gear case area. However, before cleaning the gear box's exterior components (including the fill cap and oil level gauge) inspect it for signs of overheating, corrosion, and other obvious damage.

Check fasteners to insure they have not loosened during operation. Also, inspect the breather and shaft seals of the gear case. The breather will likely include a filter and desiccant to prevent dust and moisture from entering the gear case. If you wash the gear case, take pains to shield the breather from water. Look also for oil leaks at the shaft seals. If oil is coming out, dust and moisture are surely getting in.

Overheating can be more difficult to detect. Inspection and maintenance personnel should watch for smoke from shafts, seals or breathers. They should check for discolorations on painted surfaces, or color changes on unpainted surfaces. Any deformed or melted plastic parts in the vicinity are a symptom of overheating. When examining the visual porthole of the gear case (or a dipstick), be sure there is sufficient oil in the case. An infrared heat gun can be used to check performing temperatures if you can safely remove the gear box during operation. One of the best ways to know if your gear box is going to have problems is by performing regular oil analysis.

Specialized Tools
There are other tools for inspecting gear cases, as well. These include temperature measuring devices, borescopes, analyses of gear case fluids (on-site or in the lab), dye penetrant inspection, filter element examination, auditory inspection, magnetic particle debris collectors, and others.

Of course, many assume that a housed gear assembly is perfectly aligned, gear shafts are true and gear teeth are engaging perfectly across their entire width. All the gear case inspection in the world will come to naught if the gears are mis-aligned and wearing unevenly, so check for wear patterns on the gear teeth to see if there are issues with the equipment itself.

The Best Long-term Strategy
Once problems are corrected, call Acculube for ideas and strategies that will save you time and money, both short and long-term. Inadequate lubrication is the most frequent problem-causer for gearing and gear drives. Whatever the application, Acculube has lubricants that will operate efficiently for the operating temperatures required.

NEXT ESSAY

Talk with Us Today
Our technical specialists have seen it all, and no matter what problems you may
be having with gear box lubrication, we can help you identify "best in class" solutions.
Contact Us: 1.800.404.2570 or email us at sales@acculube.com

Accurate Lubricants & Metalworking Fluids, Inc.• 403 Homestead Avenue; Dayton, Ohio 45417 USA • Phone: 937-461-9906 Fax: 937-461-9917
© 2017 by Accurate Lubricants & Metalworking Fluids, Inc. located in Dayton, Ohio U.S. All rights reserved.