Dale Hamil
Illinois Electric Works

In oil-lubricated machines, leaks are a frequent and difficult-to-diagnose and correct condition. Due to design issues, there may even be a few machines where oil leaks are simply part of the landscape and not correctable without major modifications.

Topics discussed in this article include:

• Overfilling
• Checking/replacing sight glasses
• Proper venting of labyrinth seals
• Checking/repairing stand tubes (stand pipes)
• Proper sealing
• Examining condition of oil sumps
• Draining oil before transporting
• Oil foaming
• Checking vibration levels
• Checking to see if motor is running off electrical center

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Hint:  As final proof during no-load testing, place plastic coated Kraft paper (see Figure 2), plastic side down, under the motor on each end.  Even a single drop of oil will be clearly visible on the paper that may be otherwise missed. Any oil drips should be investigated and fully resolved before shipping.