Trico Oiler VS sight glass on bearing housings for oil check
Trico Oiler VS sight glass on bearing housings for oil check
(OP)
Hello,
I work at a pump shop and customers usually have requirements to have both trico oil and sight glass on one bearing housing. Isn’t one or the other enough to check oil level in bearing housing? Am I missing something? Do you do this? Thanks
I work at a pump shop and customers usually have requirements to have both trico oil and sight glass on one bearing housing. Isn’t one or the other enough to check oil level in bearing housing? Am I missing something? Do you do this? Thanks
RE: Trico Oiler VS sight glass on bearing housings for oil check
We are considering phasing out the use of oilers, altogether. This will allow us to seal the housings up air tight and extend oil change intervals. But, in either case, I need a good sight glass on the housing. We have been looking at a 3-D sight glass that threads onto the standard 3/4" NPT connection. This looks very promising and provides better visibility than the old bulls-eye.
Johnny Pellin
RE: Trico Oiler VS sight glass on bearing housings for oil check
> If the pipe between the oiler and the housing were to plug up or freeze
Have you ever seen that happen? was it an exceedingly long pipe? (could be cut back). in theory the opening to a sight glass could get plugged also.
I can see that eliminating oilers allows you to seal the vent. but you still have potential air interchange and oil loss at the seals.
if the seals still vent, there doesn't seem to be a basis to cut back oil changes. maybe it is just a matter of degree of air interchange?
the sightglass does not fulfill the function of making up for oil loss at the seals...you may end up having to monitor level more often to avoid unpleasant surprise of oil dropped below the narrow acceptable range for rolling element bearing while you weren't watching.
both oiler and sight glass is a Cadillac (as long as the oiler isn't hanging out on a long pipe causing potential problems). if I was limited to one I'd prefer the oiler with built in level indicator .
I'm interested in your perspective if I have said something that sounds off base.
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(2B)+(2B)' ?
RE: Trico Oiler VS sight glass on bearing housings for oil check
RE: Trico Oiler VS sight glass on bearing housings for oil check
When we talk about sealing up a bearing housing, we are talking about making it air tight. The seals are contacting face seals, the oiler is removed. We add an expansion chamber on the top to accommodate changes in temperature and air pressure with less chance of air being drawn in. In combination with a full synthetic oil this can drastically reduce the introduction of contaminants. We have plants within our company that have gone to 3 year oil changes with very good success. If no oil leaks, there is no need to add oil. If the housing is air tight, the oil will last a very long time.
Johnny Pellin