Motor maintenance – schedule & routine care
The key to minimizing motor problems is scheduled routine inspection and service. The frequency of routine service varies widely between applications.
Including the motors in the maintenance schedule for the driven machine or general plant equipment is usually sufficient. A motor may require additional or more frequent attention if a breakdown would cause health or safety problems, severe loss of production, damage to expensive equipment or other serious losses.
Written records indicating date, items inspected, service performed and motor condition are important to an effective routine maintenance program. From such records, specific problems in each application can be identified and solved routinely to avoid breakdowns and production losses.
The routine inspection and servicing can generally be done without disconnecting or disassembling the motor. It involves the following factors:
Dirt and corrosion
1- Wipe, brush vacuum or blow accumulated dirt from the frame and air passages of the motor. Dirty motors run hot when thick dirt insulates the frame and clogged passages reduce cooling air flow. Heat reduces insulation life and eventually causes motor failure.
2- Feel for air being discharged from the cooling air ports. If the flow is weak or unsteady, internal air passages are probably clogged. Remove the motor from service and clean.
3- Check for signs of corrosion. Serious corrosion may indicate internal deterioration and/or a need for external repainting. Schedule the removal of the motor from service for complete inspection and possible rebuilding.
4-In wet or corrosive environments open the conduit box and check for deteriorating insulation or corroded terminals. Repair as needed.
Lubrication
Lubricate the bearings only when scheduled or if they are noisy or running hot. Do NOT over-lubricate. Excessive grease and oil creates dirt and can damage bearings.
Heat Noise and Vibration
Feel the motor frame and bearings for excessive heat or vibration. Listen for abnormal noise. All indicate a possible system failure. Promptly identify and eliminate the source of the heat, noise or vibration.
Winding insulation
When records indicate a tendency toward periodic winding failures in the application, check the condition of the insulation with an insulation resistance test. See “Testing Windings” for details. Such testing is especially important for motors operated in wet or corrosive atmospheres or in high ambient temperatures.
Engine Maintenance
A gasoline-powered lawn mower is the standard fuel-powered mower you find at your garden or landscaping supply store. While these mowers are of good quality and are able to get the job done, they also require regular maintenance in the form of spark plug replacement, oil changes and filter cleaning. If you store your gas-powered lawn mower over the winter months when your grass is dormant, you may also discover that you have a hard time starting the mower the following season, as the carburetor begins to gum up over lengthy periods without use.
With a diesel-powered motor, you’ll have less maintenance, as they do not have the same parts. Diesel mowers do not have spark plugs, plug wires, rotors, distributor caps or carburetors like a gas mower. Diesels have no problem starting after being stored for a few months and the engine is water-cooled, meaning it runs more efficiently with less maintenance.