General • Inspections

Fine Material Screw Washers Maintenance Tips

Fully utilizing the latest preventive machine maintenance technology can help save aggregates production business owners big money annually. Even performing minor clean-up and inspections around and on a daily basis can yield increased service life.

MaintainX

07/28/2022

Fine Material Screw Washers Maintenance Tips

Conduct Regular Walkthroughs

Operators of sand classifier equipment should aim to conduct a weekly walkthrough of their machine. The walkthrough can be kept simple and conducted while the plant is running. Doing so can help you catch some maintenance issues before they become larger concerns.

While completing a walk around of the machine, pay careful attention to the noises it’s making. Unusual sounds can be signs of an overheating motor or reducer, unfastened bolts, or even issues with the screw shaft.

Properly Lubricate Bearings

Regularly lubricate the bearings supporting each end of the screw shaft. Be sure to check manufacturer recommendations. The lubrication requirements of seals on submerged rear bearings may be more frequent than the requirements of the bearing itself. Non-lubricated seals can cause more frequent rear bearing failures, resulting in additional maintenance and machine downtime.

Routinely Clean the Gearbox and Replace Oil

Always check your sand classifying machine manufacturer’s recommendations, but generally the gearbox should be cleaned and its oil replaced every 3-6 months of operation. Following a routine schedule of gearbox maintenance can help extend its life and avoid downtime.

Check Motor Wiring Frequently

Electrical systems and wiring should be regularly inspected to ensure they are functioning properly. Check to make sure they have reliable grounding to prevent unnecessary wear, leakage, and to avoid accidents.

In addition, wiring and electrical components should be cleared of any sand or other build-up of fine material to prevent interference that can lead to component failure.

Inspect Your Entire System

Lastly, when inspecting your fine material screw washer, look at the machine holistically and avoid compartmentalizing different pieces of equipment on the machine. Individual pieces of equipment can and should be inspected, but the overall process must also be considered. An issue or failure of one part can often be a result of another maintenance issue that was overlooked. Always consider and check your entire system.

Source: MaintainX (Community Member)