Preventing Bearing Failure

BEARING FAILURE, MAINTENANCE, AND TROUBLESHOOTING

Did you know most bearing failures are not caused by manufacturer's defect? From not enough grease to too much grease, or improper repairs by an unauthorized shop - our service technicians have seen it all. 

Regardless of the cause, bearing failure puts your operation at risk for unscheduled downtime and repairs. 

Bearing failure can be prevented with proper maintenance and monitoring. Included below are some of the most common causes and solutions for preventing bearing failure in your liquid ring pump or compressor.

Cause of Failure: Lubrication

POSSIBLE CAUSES

  • Incorrect seal liquid rates
  • Incorrect grease
  • Excess grease
  • Insufficient grease
  • Contamination of grease
  • Mixing grease types

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

  • Monitor packing leakage.
  • Use only the grease recommended by Nash for your specific model and operating conditions.
  • Do not over-grease bearings.
  • Check grease every 6 months, refill as needed.
  • DO NOT MIX GREASE - refill grease should be the same as the existing grease.
  • Refer to your manual for additional information, or contact NASH Certified Service.

Cause of Failure: PLUGGED DRIP TRAY

POSSIBLE CAUSES

  • Water/seal liquid dripping from the stuffing box can backup and enter the bearing housing, contaminating the lubricant. 

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

  • Keep the drip tray opening (drain) clean and clear of debris to allow water to exit freely. 

Cause of Failure: IMPROPER INSTALLATION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

  • Shaft alignment
  • "Soft" pump foot
  • Piping stress

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

  • Check coupling alignment - to spec
  • Check for soft foot - pump properly shimmed
  • Check for equal seal flow to each side of pump
  • Eliminate piping stress, when inlet is disconnected no misalignment
  • Monitor bearing temperatures and vibration weekly

Cause of Failure: IMPROPER REPAIR

POSSIBLE CAUSES

  • Shafts machined in place
  • Bearing re-used after repair
  • Proper bearing installation not followed

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing bearing failure mode, NASH Certified Service is available to help. We can walk you through the potential solutions above, and based on our extensive experience can troubleshoot unique situations.

Through preventative maintenance, and ongoing support we can help you prevent bearing failure and other typical pump issues before they become larger problems.

You invested in a NASH® pump for a reason - reliability. Let us help you keep your operation running smoothly, reliably and efficiently.