Regular maintenance and monitoring is a vital part of ensuring control pulleys perform reliably, and lubrication is one of the most important aspects of control pulley maintenance. Here is a quick control pulley lubrication guide to ensure your control pulleys perform optimally and last a long time.
Choosing Lubricant for a Control Pulley
Different applications and components require different kinds of lubrication, so make sure you know which type of grease or oil your particular control pulley needs. The operating conditions and environment can also have implications for lubrication, so check the original manufacturer’s instructions as they should detail the type of lubrication needed and any variations for environmental conditions, or seek advice from a control pulley supplier like YB Components.
The right lubrication is crucial as oils and greases vary even amongst themselves, with some suitable for high temperatures and others for low temperatures. Some control pulleys may need the lubricant to be water resistant, or able to withstand high loads and speeds.
Applying Lubricant to Control Pulleys
Again, the original manufacturer should have provided instructions regarding how much lubricant is required, where to apply it, and how often. This is important information as too much lubricant can compromise seals and allow contamination to corrupt vital components of the control pulley.
In contrast, too little lubricant will cause additional friction and increase the temperature being generated during operation. Some control pulleys can be fitted with an automatic lubricator which applies the ideal amount of lubrication at the correct intervals.
Re-evaluating Control Pulley Lubricant
Control pulleys may undergo environmental changes which can mean a change of lubrication type may be necessary. Therefore it is pertinent to re-evaluate the lubrication selection after significant periods of time or after any major changes to the operating environment.
The re-evaluation process will ensure that the type and quantity of lubricant being applied remains appropriate for the conditions, which in turn will help minimise lubricant degradation and prolong the service life of the control pulley’s components.
Lubricant Storage
Equally important to the selection and application of the lubricant is the storage conditions. Control pulley lubrication of all types must be stored in a cool and dry location. It should also be properly sealed to avoid contamination which may cause degradation, and properly labelled for easy identification.
Properly stored and sealed, lubricating oils can usually be stored for up to ten years before natural degradation begins, while greases tend to have a much shorter storage life of about two years. Incorrect lubrication storage conditions and extreme temperatures obviously greatly reduce these time frames.
Condition Monitoring for Control Pulleys
Condition monitoring is an ongoing maintenance method which provides insight into the condition of the control pulley’s components. For example, monitoring the temperatures being generated can tell you when extra friction is being produced, thus indicating a lack of lubrication.
Such an early warning system can help you maintain the correct lubrication levels for optimum performance.
If you require any control pulleys or additional advice on control pulley maintenance, then contact YB Components who are the UK’s leading control pulley supplier in Yorkshire. We keep local stocks of all such parts and more ready to ship out fast and free all over the UK and the rest of the world.