Open gear wear warning comes from lubrication firm 02 August 2010

Plants that use open gears should be checking for wear and tear, warns Industrial Speciality Lubricants.

The company, which is the UK supplier of Whitmore's component protection lubricants, points to a recent audit that revealed damage due to poor quality greases.

"It is shocking to see the state of the majority of open gears in operation in the UK at present," states Leanne Combrinck of ISL. "Many engineers are under the impression that the lubrication system they currently have is as good as it gets."

Combrinck believes that many plant engineers think "it's normal to see wear patterns appear in such short operational time spans", when, with the right lubrication system, "wear on gear teeth will take years to appear and gears could last up to 25-years in service".

She also advises that the cost implications of replacing open gears – on average from £30,000 upwards – mean that plant engineers should be making urgent and regular checks.

"By protecting their investment with the right lubricant, they will see significant savings as well as improved plant efficiency and a reduction in energy consumption, so effective lubrication shouldn't be taken lightly," says Combrinck.

She explains that the use of an appropriate open gear lubricant helps increase the contact surface area, reduces friction and prevents wear. "When looking for a good product, we always advise considering: its adhesive properties, how well it sticks to the product; its cohesive properties, so how well it sticks to itself; and the additive it contains. Getting the balance right between these is of paramount importance."

Brian Tinham

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Industrial Speciality Lubricants

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