Expertise Reveals Poor Original Installation Practices
Qualtex was approached by the client to provide an urgent bearing change on an operationally critical furnace blower fan unit that had developed a sudden increase in fan bearing temperatures. Bearing failure was imminent and without this fan unit in play operations at the factory come to a complete stop.
Upon arriving at site, our technician performed a standard assessment of the motor and fan-set and immediately identified an unusual rotation and a strange noise coming from the coupling assembly. Upon further inspection, it was found that all the fastenings of the motor-fan shaft coupling taper lock boss were loose. There was evidence of significant wear, suggesting the possibility of the coupling arrangement failing in operation. This could have been disastrous for our client had the movement increased, with coupling and shaft damage costing significantly more in down time and lost production – all for the sake of using competent and experienced technicians to install plant correctly and optimally to begin with.
Under urgency, our technician organised new coupling parts, as well as the required spherical roller bearing for the fan shaft, and completed the work with a precision laser alignment of the motor and fan shaft using quality shim (to replace the folded paper our technician found had been used instead of proper shim). All done quickly, safely and professionally – returning the unit to operation allowing the factory to get back to full production and doing what it does best once more.
