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Why do we grease motors?
Proper lubrication of essential motor bearings ensures that your machines run, well, like well-oiled machines! Grease lubricates ball and roller bearings in your industrial motors to reduce friction, protect from dirt and debris, and also acts as a coolant by transferring heat from the metal bearings.
Do electric motors need grease?
Electric motors require lubricants with specific characteristics. Use of the wrong grease often leads to early electric motor failures. The grease consistency preferred for electric motors is normally NLGI 2 or 3, with a base oil viscosity of 100-150 cSt @ 40°C.
How often should electric motor bearings be greased?
When the operating temperature is between 80°C – 100°C (176°F – 212°F), oil should be replaced at least every three months. For critical equipment, it is advisable that lubricating oil be analyzed at least every three months to determine when oil replacement is necessary.
Can you oil an electric motor?
Expert advice: When oiling an electric motor, be sure to use oil that’s specifically designed for motors. When oiling an electric motor be sure to use special oil for lubricating electric motors. Other oils could cause excess wear and premature failure.
What does the NLGI number of grease indicate?
The NLGI number is a measure of the grease’s consistency as indicated by its worked penetration value. The higher the consistency, the more resistant the grease is to releasing lubricating fluid under force. A grease with a low consistency will release lubricating fluid more readily.
How often should motors be greased?
Relubrication intervals for most rolling element bearings range from two weeks to two years although for many it is once a year during scheduled maintenance shutdowns. At the lower extreme, bearings running at or near their speed limits may require relubrication as often as every six to eight hours.
Can you use WD-40 on electric motors?
It’s a great cleaner, but it’s not a good lubricant. You should be fine if you use it to clean. The motor will fail if wd-40 is used. …
What is the difference between NLGI 1 and NLGI 2 grease?
There are two basic types of grease for most equipment and machinery applications: NLGI #1 grease and NLGI #2 grease. So what’s the difference? Less thickener makes a #1 grease more tractable and slippery, while #2 grease has more thickener, making it stiffer and great for all-purpose applications.
Can you use multipurpose grease on an electric motor?
Multipurpose greases are designed for slower-speed bearings or bearings with higher loads such as pillow-block bearings used on conveyors. They should never be used for electric-motor lubrication.
Why do electric motor bearings have to be greased?
Most electric motors are designed with grease-lubricated, antifriction, rolling-element bearings. Grease is the lifeblood of these bearings because it provides an oil film that prevents the harsh metal-to-metal contact between the rotating element and races.
What’s the best way to lubricate an electric motor?
Since many bearing failures are induced by particle contamination, it is also best practice to clean the grease fitting and the end of the grease gun prior to applying grease to the motor. In the past 10 to 15 years, many companies have used ultrasonic devices to assist in correctly lubricating motors.
How do you calculate the amount of grease to apply to a motor bearing?
The amount of grease to apply to each motor bearing depends on bearing size. To calculate the right amount, we simply need to know the outside diameter of the bearing (D) and the bearing’s width, or thickness (B). Multiplying D and B, together with a constant, as shown in Fig. 1, will yield a good estimate for the correct quantity of grease.