Maintaining your mining pumps can be complicated especially if you are new to pump maintenance. Thankfully, there are some effective ways to streamline the process and make it easier to repair your pump. Here are some hacks for pump maintenance that will keep you operating your pump more cost-effectively and longer.
Remove a stuck impeller safely
Pump impellers can get stuck for various reasons. The most common reason is when one gasket or no gasket is used. You should make sure you use two gaskets. Another reason is when anti-seize has been applied to a hub face. You should only use anti-seize on certain parts of the pump impeller.
A lot of people like to use anti-seize on the faces of the shaft sleeve, the gaskets and impeller. That causes it to overtighten. If you want to use anti-seize on the impeller or the threads of the shaft, you should keep the axial faces of the gaskets, shaft sleeves and impeller hub dry. The pump impellers can also stick due to the thread breakage on either the impeller or shaft. While it is possible to run a pump when the impeller is stuck, it is best to fix it first to avoid long-term damage.
Maintenance workers can use a drop bar for complex cases and the weight of the impeller to break threads loose. For this maintenance and other procedures, it is important to ensure that the impeller of the pump is fully seated when starting your pump. you should avoid heating the impeller or running the pump backward as this will force you to get a new pump from mining pumps manufacturers.
Pack your stuffing box properly
When it comes to packing the stuffing box, you should start with an inspection. During the inspection step, you should disassemble parts and check for grooving and excess wear. You should then align the stuffing box with the sleeve. The next step is to install lantern rings and the number of rings you install should depend on the stuffing box.
You should then pack and tighten and ensure all rings are the right length. Apply seal water and do it right before you start the pump. watch for any leakages and let it run for about an hour and then check flush water requirements.
Tightening mechanical seals
A lot of operators use stuffing boxes. However, mechanical seals have some benefits. to use them, you must tighten them properly. TO tighten them properly, you should start by bolting the seal adapter to the pedestal and use your hands to tighten it. Ensure the adapter plate is mounted to the shaft perpendicularly. Check the sleeve’s fit of the shaft onto the seal bore. Slide the mechanical seal over the shaft sleeve and lubricate the studs using anti-seize and install nuts and washers. Remove and store your lock tabs and adjust the nose gap.
Removing the shaft sleeve
You should ensure proper shaft sleeve maintenance of your mining pumps. Spray the sleeve’s both ways with penetrating oil. After allowing it to soak, use a slide hammer to pull it off.