Industrial Pump Maintenance Guide

If you are reading this, chances are that your industrial pump has been damaged. You are probably wondering: How can you quickly repair an industrial pump with the least possible investment? Generally speaking, you have two options:
(1)Arm yourself with wrenches, a hoist, new packing, lubricants, and vibration/temperature detection equipment, and use the industrial pump repair procedures outlined below during the repair process.

(2)Entrust the repair to an industrial pump repair company to avoid the hassle.
Whichever you choose, this step-by-step industrial pump repair guide will help you better understand the repair process and be prepared for the work ahead.

 

 

Make your device look like new with these 9 steps：If you plan to do it yourself, make sure you have a clean and spacious workshop and all the tools, instruments and technical knowledge required to repair industrial pumps.

 

• Check the pump packing for poor sealing and gaps

The most common problem with industrial pumps is leakage caused by wear of the pump housing or cracks in the structure. All connections and packing seals on the pump should be checked, and packing seal leakage should be controlled to about 20 drops per minute. If more liquid is found to flow out, it means you should replace the packing.

 

• Isolate the driver and pump

Safety is the most critical factor in any repair. If any leaks are found, be sure to disconnect the driver from the pump and allow the pump to cool before continuing.

 

• Removing old packing

While some leak problems can be caused by a bad seal or an under-tightened component, most problems are caused by bad packing. Therefore, the next step should be to remove the old packing from the industrial pump stuffing box. Note: You should never add a layer of new packing over old packing! Simply "patching" the packing with a new layer of material will not prevent future leaks, and you will likely face the same problem in 1-2 months if you take this approach.

 

• Install packing around the shaft to prevent further damage

After removing the damaged packing, carefully clean the stuffing box and inspect the shaft. Do you see any remaining dirt, metal shavings, or any other signs of abnormal wear? If you are from Texas and this is the case, you may consider seeking further inspection by a professional industrial pump repair person in Houston. If the appearance of the shaft is normal, you can start to fill the new packing. When filling the new packing, make sure that there are no gaps left in the seams to prevent leakage. If you find signs of wear or damage to the shaft, do not reinstall the packing. Consult an expert in pump repair to see if the shaft can be repaired through high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) injection services or reverse engineering and remanufacturing. Now you can start to fill the stuffing box, but pay attention to a few things:
1. The seam of each ring of packing should be staggered 90° from the previous seam
2. Place the liquid seal ring near the coolant port
3. Be sure to seal tightly and do not use any sharp tools to avoid scratching the surface of the shaft.
Completing the above steps will ensure that the new packing is waterproof and prevents leakage.

 

• Tighten the follower on the stuffing box cover

Now that the hard part is done, you need to recheck the stuffing box for leaks. Is the leakage still high? Then tighten the follower (stuffing gland) and reduce the leakage to about 20 drops per minute. When tightening the packing gland, do it gradually (about half a turn every 10 minutes).

 

• Clean and inspect bearings and couplings

During long periods of operation, bearings often overheat. Over time, they can become contaminated with metal shavings. Therefore, once the industrial pump has cooled down after being shut down, all joints and grease cups need to be cleaned. Do you see (worn) metal shavings in the bearings, seals or couplings? If this is the case, you need to replace them.

 

• lubricating

After removing all grease and foreign matter from the parts being lubricated, it is time to lubricate them. Be careful not to over-lubricate, as excess lubricant will generate more heat when the pump is running.

 

• Check motor strength and pump flow

Reassemble the industrial pump equipment and test it. Does the motor work as expected and has sufficient strength? If you still face some problems, you need to take the pump motor to a professional industrial pump repairman for inspection.

 

• Conduct vibration and temperature tests

Last but not least, you need to perform several tests on the repaired pump unit to ensure that your industrial pump is working properly. First, find the manual of the pump, which has the normal operating temperature and vibration values. Now, start the pump unit and let it run for a few hours. Finally, use a vibration meter and an infrared thermometer to measure the vibration and temperature of the pump. Make sure to check multiple points on the pump unit.