Routine Maintenance – Feb. 29, 2020

Just like with all critical assets, you want to do everything in your power to extend the life and maintain production. The same goes for your Seipee motors. Routine maintenance should be carried out regularly, when the motor is at a standstill and disconnected from the main power supply.

            First, check to make sure that the entire cooling circuit is free from dust, oil, or any other machining residue. This will prevent the motor from overheating and ensure the normal cooling cycle doesn’t become impaired.

            Second, make sure the motor operates without vibrations or any abnormal sounding noises. If you discover that there are in fact vibrations, check the foundation of the motor and make sure that the machine the motor is connected to, is correctly balanced.

            Thirdly, give a check to the condition of the shaft seals and grease them periodically since these components function in direct contact with several moving parts and can wear out very quickly. Once they become too worn, they must be replaced with components identical to the original ones.

            Lastly, you should always check the bearings. With the closed bearings being installed in the JM, JMM, and GM-GMD 160-250 series, you must replace them at the end of their working life. With the open bearings installed in the GM series, you will need to lubricate them at the regular intervals. Obviously, bearing life will vary considerably depending on the load and the number of times the motor is started. However, they can also be affected by temperature and the degree of humidity in the environment. If you begin hearing any sort of excessive noise, this is probably a good indicator that the bearings are ready to be replaced. After they are replaced, if they are continuing to make noise then it must mean the bearings are already damaged and once again need to be replaced. You always want to be careful with the windings to prevent any damage as you change the bearings and the shaft with rotor is removed from the stator. It is always advisable to replace the seals on the shaft.

Important: If any motor components are disassembled or re-assembled in places where there was protective cement or silicone applied, remember to re-apply the same degree of protection when the parts are fully re-assembled.