Electric Motor missing drain plug

[riez10Participant @riez10]

Hi everyone. We are about to grease our electric motor, but we can’t find the grease drain plug. Instead, we have a pair of Zerk fittings on top and at the 5 o’clock position on both sides. Have you encountered this type of motor before?

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

A drain plug ? You do not drain grease ! More importantly ONLY grease sparingly or you will cause trouble. If the Hp and FLA figures are correct that is an expensive motor. Good Luck.  Noel.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

The lower one looks like the cable entry to me.  The upper may just be a blanking plug. The only thing that should need grease is the bearings and those not much.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

No reason to grease the motor at all. Bearings are sealed for life. DON’T even think about putting grease in the apertures you suggest! You are likely to to do more harm than good.

Andrew.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

I really thought I had heard it all, but THIS is a new one on me !!!!

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

IS IT AI ? Noel.

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

Couple of things.

The lower photo quite clearly has grease nipples circled.

Unless my eyes deceive me, that is a pretty Big motor. I.e. not a simple lathe motor – more industrial? Look carefully at the spec. plate in upper pic. So greasing seems probable.

Don’t know where this chap is located, but having a ‘z’ in his id may indicate somewhere abroad? I mention this only in case there is an issue with words / phrases that is a bit misleading?

 

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

The motor plate shows 60Hz and a Canadian approval – which may be a clue to location.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

It’s all in the first picture. It even tells you the bearing type – 6313 Certainly not a sealed for life type see: https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/SKF-Ball-Bearings/6313-C3-SKF-Open-Ball-Bearing-65mm-x-140mm-x-33mm-97713-p
Instructions here:
https://www.mep.ca/Public/pdf/manual%20english.pdf

They include lubrication.
I’d suggest that either grease nipple / zerk fitting can be used as the input or output. Remove the one that is easiest for output. Thi is based on access for grease gun on input and cleanig any grease at the output.

Robert.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

It does state on the plate to lubricate with Mobil Polyrex EM grease. Motor made in P.R.C. which I presume is the Peoples Republic of China

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

The serial plate also indicates it is most definitely nothing to do with model engineering!  75HP, which would likely draw the best part of 60kW at full load.🙂

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

I have been a maintenance  oiler in a factory for a few years. 1/4 of a stroke on a grease pump would be plenty for the next 10-15 years, Stop pumping if resistance is felt, don’t want to blow out a seal.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

The manual I linked to gives the exact amount of grease to use. If you take out one fitting as instructed there is little chance of bursting a seal.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

As a matter of interest, what are you driving with it ??

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

It makes sense on a big motor to duplicate the grease nipples as it doubles the chance of one being reachable with a grease gun. As already mentioned very little grease would be needed every few years.

Back in the 60’s when I was in electroplating, our air compressor had a manual starter, I believe it started in delta and after it was beginning to turn you threw the lever over into star.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

A couple of people have suggested lubrication is only every few to more than 10 years.
The manual for the motor suggests every 6 months.

Robert.

[Robert Atkinson 2]

On Robert Atkinson 2 Said:

A couple of people have suggested lubrication is only every few to more than 10 years.
The manual for the motor suggests every 6 months.

Robert.

Probably because they are thinking model engineering hobbyists, not heavy industry?

[martin haysomParticipant @martinhaysom48469]

its not just big motors that have grease points. the motor on my single phase compressor has grease points. must go and regrease it [for the third time in 30 years]

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

I can only speak of industrial motors but as an example WEG have sealed for life bearings on smaller ones grease nipples fitted on frame D225 up, this equates to about 55kw, depending on poles (speed) other manufacturers are similar.

Bill D.

[riez10Participant @riez10]

Yes I agree. And sometimes  frequency still change depends on the conditions of the motor environment. It was just the first time we encounter this type of motor with 2 zerk plug both sides. 

[riez10Participant @riez10]

It is a dust collector system for a wood factory.

[riez10Participant @riez10]

Of course it is not an AI.

[Mike Hurley]

On Mike Hurley Said:

Couple of things.

The lower photo quite clearly has grease nipples circled.

Unless my eyes deceive me, that is a pretty Big motor. I.e. not a simple lathe motor – more industrial? Look carefully at the spec. plate in upper pic. So greasing seems probable.

Don’t know where this chap is located, but having a ‘z’ in his id may indicate somewhere abroad? I mention this only in case there is an issue with words / phrases that is a bit misleading?

Yes it is an industrial motor for dust collection system. And you are also correct with the nipples circled.

 

 

[old mart]

On old mart Said:

It makes sense on a big motor to duplicate the grease nipples as it doubles the chance of one being reachable with a grease gun. As already mentioned very little grease would be needed every few years.

Back in the 60’s when I was in electroplating, our air compressor had a manual starter, I believe it started in delta and after it was beginning to turn you threw the lever over into star.

So this type of motor doesn’t need for the old grease to purge out?

[riez10]

On riez10 Said:

Yes I agree. And sometimes  frequency still change depends on the conditions of the motor environment. It was just the first time we encounter this type of motor with 2 zerk plug both sides. 

So just remove one fitting and put the grease gun on the other.
Instructions https://www.mep.ca/Public/pdf/manual%20english.pdf
When you have added grease put the fitting back in. A standard grease fitting is probably cheaper than a special plug and they only have only have to stock one part.

Robert.

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