Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

The Importance of a Visual Inspection

Industry News
Stan Riddle

The Importance of a Visual Inspection

Contributor: Stan Riddle

In these days of AI, electronics, and smart devices, the “good old fashioned” visual inspection may seem dated.  But there is no computer-aided device that can take the place of a skilled set of eyes inspecting a machine.

During a recent precision maintenance training class we taught, we were asked to go out to one of our customer’s pump rooms. They had experienced several pump failures and wanted to practice on some real machinery.

On one of the pumps we locked out, we removed the coupling guard, and saw this (picture above). I asked the group (mainly composed of young, inexperienced maintenance personnel) “What do you see?”

After a couple moments of silence, it was obvious that they weren’t sure what to look for. So I said “here’s what an old mechanic sees”: an elastomeric coupling insert that’s only being half used.  The coupling hub separation was too far apart, so only half of the jaws are being used to transfer power.

The motor-side key appears much longer than it should be.  Excessive vibration was measured on the motor drive end bearing, which is indicative of imbalance.  This key could be the cause.

After this, the techs started looking around, and found a dry-rotting flexible inlet connector, a leaking mechanical seal, and a broken motor hold-down bolt.  And the group started making repairs.

Hi-tech tools can diagnose many things, but they should be used in conjunction with a “low tech-high experience” visual inspection.

Don’t Ignore the Signs of Misalignment

Related Articles

Related Whitepapers

Expansion Joint Expertise Improves Industrial Wastewater System Reliability

The majority of industries have wastewater treatment plants. Government agencies and local governments require these facilities to meet pretreatment requirements. Pretreatment rules were enacted to prevent…

How to Decrease Oil Changes with Bearing Isolators [Inforgraphic]

Learning how to decrease oil changes can be time- and money-saving. Oil life can be long if contamination is eliminated, which is easier said than…

Synchronous Machines Are The Optimal Choice For Heavy Industry

TECO-Westinghouse experience assures superior performance and reliability For over a century, Westinghouse has been the pacesetter in the design and production of electric machines for heavy…

Why FLEXXORs Are Designed Differently

J. Hilbert Anderson, President of Coupling Corporation of America, discusses some of the reasons why FLEXXORs are designed differently from all other flexible couplings, and…

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join the #PumpTalk Community


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Empowering Pumps & Equipment, 2205-C 7th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35401, http://www.empoweringpumps.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact