Cleaning motors in service 2

[yulinios]

Hi there!

What is the best way to clean motors in service?.

Thanks

 

[jraef]

Cleaning from what? There is an argument to be made for not cleaning motors in service other than to vacuum off dirt buildup to keep it from interfering with cooling. Cleaning while in service tends to drive contaminants into places that were not meant to have them. There are specifically designed wash down duty motors for food processing lines that are sealed to prevent this from happening, but standard motors are not designed to be cleaned in service. They should be removed and cleaned properly in a shop as part of a routine maintenance program. If the process is necessary for plant operations, swap the motor out with a spare while it is being cleaned.

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[petronila]

Hello yulinios,

1.Stop the motor
2.Cut off the power
3.Log Out and Tag out
4.Verify the motor don´t start open the connection box and look for damage on leads and power wires.
5.Take an insulation reading(IR) at 500 V from the CCM and record the reading.
6.Uncouple the motor
7.Made a complete visual motor´s inspection looking for damage in motor parts,couplings or pulley, belts and foundations and for unusual services conditions.
8.Clean all motor´s surface with a dry wype
9.Apply new grease to the bearings.Take out the fun and fun cover.
10.Clean the grase excess
11.wash and clean the fun (If is made with plastic)
12.Clean the cover inside
13 Assembly the fun and cover fun.
14.Couple and align the motor
15.Restore the power conditions and start the motor.
16.Take a voltages, Line Current and frame and bearings temperature readings,and vibration levels.

Remember record all readings.

If you don´t have a good IR readings the motor could be sended to shop or could be dry out on site with a blower, the motor may need dissambled.

Regards
Petronila

 

[itsmoked]

Nice list petronila!

Note: fun => fan

I would suggest #16 => #1.

That is, measure those values before the motor cools and is otherwise touched.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- <

http://www.flaminsystems.com>

 

[jraef]

Might I point out that the above entails taking the motor OUT of service? While this is a good treatise on the proper procedure, he specifically said "IN service."

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[itsmoked]

He did indeed.. You are correct jraef!

However one person's "IN service" I could easily see as another person's "LEFT installed".

Because to me, doing anything to a mangler while it is in motion can't be what any sane person would be asking..?

"I'll just reach in here while its off and clean it with this towel" CLACK!

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- <

http://www.flaminsystems.com>

 

[jraef]

For most, "in service" doesn't necessarily mean while running, it's very difficult to get a pass from OSHA to do anything to a motor that's still spinning. It means the power is locked off, but they work on it without removing the motor or any power train components because it means expensive and time consuming mounting, shaft alignment, balancing issues etc. In the food processing industry they also need to hose everything down periodically, but they don't remove the motors to do so.

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[waross]

There was a method in use many years ago. One of my first jobs was Electrical chief in a large sawmill. The old electricians and millwrights were complaining that Carbon-tetra-cloride had been recently outlawed. Our motors would get an internal buildup of very fine saw-dust and pine pitch. They claimed that carbon-tet sprayed into the end of a running, open drip-proof motor did a perfect job of cleaning it. On the other hand, one of the sharpest mill electrical men I knew died years ago from progressive deterioration of the central nervous system.
respectfully

 

[jraef]

When I think back on all the things I've been exposed to and the risks I've taken, I am amazed I have lived so long. I used to use CTC on a lot of cleaning jobs, it was very common in the electrical industry because if didn't leave a residue. We used to spray it on our hands at the end of the day.

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[ScottyUK]

In the hybrids industry we used toluene mixed with methanol as a general purpose solvent for cleaning solder paste off printing screens, machines, people, etc. We also used acetone or IPA for certain fluxes. When used on skin, the solvent would no doubt transfer some of the chemical contaminant into the body along with the solvent itself. Everyone seemed oblivious to this.

General solvents we had available for removing spent flux were Chlorothene (trichloroethane) and Triklone (trichloroethylene). There was an unofficial stash of other things like Genklene (no idea), Arklone (don't know that one either), and Methoklone (Dichloromethane) for those jobs where things weren't going too well with conventional solvents. Maintenance used to get the spent solvent from the line when it was too dirty to use in production - we would use it for initial degreasing of machine parts, then move on to fresh solvent.

Some of the oldtimers had some nasty skin problems and, as waross says, 'nervous system problems'. I'm sure carbon tet was used there, but before my time.

The names are the old ICI brand names.

----------------------------------

I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

 

[HCBFlash]

so, Yulinios, and all interested parties, what we can see are the most important issues:
1- safety of personel
2- "do no harm"
- don't put contaminants into machinery by use of pressurized fluids
- use care in selecting any solvents

Of course since every choice has some undesirable aspects, be certain that the grand sum of undesireable factors and risks are within an absolutely acceptable range.

Please let us all know how this works out for you! and don't forget faq731-376

 

[petronila]

Thanks Keith,

Thanks for the corrections and suggestion, Yes is better start with the Item 16. The New The list is:

0.With the motor running, Take a voltages, Line Current, frame and bearings temperature readings,and vibration levels.
1.Stop the motor
2.Cut off the power
3.Log Out and Tag out
4.Verify the motor don´t start.Open the connection box and look for damage on leads and power wires.
5.Take an insulation reading(IR) at 500 V from the CCM and record the reading.
6.Uncouple the motor
7.Made a complete visual motor´s inspection looking for damage in motor parts,couplings or pulley, belts and foundations and for unusual services conditions.
8.Clean all motor´s surface with a dry wype.
9.Apply new grease to the bearings.Take out the fan and fan cover.
10.Clean the grase excess
11.Wash and clean the fan (If is made with plastic)
12.Clean the fan cover inside
13 Assembly the fan and cover fan.
14.Couple and align the motor
15.Restore the power conditions and start the motor.
16.Take a voltages, Line Current and frame and bearings temperature readings,and vibration levels and compare with readings taked in the item 0.

Remember record all readings.

If you don´t have a good IR readings the motor could be sended to shop or could be dry out on site with a blower, the motor may need dissambled.

Regards
Petronila

 

[yulinios]

Thanks to everybody for yours valuable post, really nice to do my job.

Bye there!

 

[motorrepairshop]

What do you guys think of ice blaasting your motors?

 

[jraef]

You mean dry ice blasting don't you? water ice could be a problem.

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