The 5 Most Common Industrial Gearbox Faults

Industrial Gearbox Faults, Errors and Troubleshooting

In this blog, our expert engineering team share the industrial gearbox faults they most often see and repair in the Kontrolmek workshops.

1. Bearing Issues

The majority of industrial gearbox problems occur with the bearings. This part of the gearbox is prone to a number of issues including debris, contamination, leaks, misalignment, vibration and shock.

2. Misalignment

Industrial gearbox misalignment can occur from a variety of issues including thermal expansion, poor installation, improper mounting and deflection problems. The problem happens in the gear and bearing pitting of the gearbox.

Sometimes our customers are actually using the incorrect industrial gearbox for the task. We can help spot this purely through inspection and information from you. Misalignment will ultimately lead to total failure.

3. Poor Lubrication

Like many mechanical parts, they require proper lubrication to function. Gearboxes operate at high speeds and under pressure, so lubrication is required to prevent any faults and stoppages. If the gears start to begin failing, they can damage themselves.

If you are lubricating your parts, check for leaks. But if you aren’t, then you may notice dryness, grinding or noise from the industrial gearbox. You also need to use the correct lubrication for the part too.

4. High Temperature

Your industrial gearbox may be flaring up with high temperatures when in operation. By regularly monitoring, you can then investigate further on what has gone wrong. The rise in temperature will likely occur between the housing and shaft, so that’s where to check.

High temperatures of your industrial gearbox may be from poor lubrication, poor airflow or overtightened bearings. If you need help, just get in touch and we’ll try our best.

5. Vibrations

Similar to motors, when in operation, your industrial gearbox will likely vibrate. But, if it becomes significantly noticeable, there may be something wrong. When speed and torque increases, so do vibrations. When vibrations increase, the likelihood of failure does too.

Vibrations can cause shaft failure, and the signs to spot are noise, underperformance and even visible cracks. The industrial gearbox may not have the proper support it needs or is being pushed beyond its limit too often.

Noise, performance issues and temperature problems are your friends. They are the signs which will occur and tell you something is wrong, before total failure. When you

When maintaining your industrial gearbox, spot these signals and get it repaired early. You’ll save big, both on time and money. If you don’t, you may end up having to buy a new industrial gearbox. Get in touch for a free collection and quote.

Lewys Gammond Phillips

Lewys Gammond Phillips

Marketing Officer, Kontrolmek Ltd

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