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Six tips for taking care of your gearbox

Industrial gearboxes can be tricky devices. They require a lot of tender love and care if they are to remain in good working condition for a prolonged period of time, but the good news is that there are lots of simple steps you can take to look after your gearboxes and prolong their lives.

Here are our top tips for taking good care of your gearbox:

1. Check manufacturing details

So often, gearboxes are used in applications that go against their intended use, and this can cause them to burn out fairly quickly. You should always check the manufacturer’s specifications and thermal ratings before you put a gearbox into action.

2. Choose the right oil

There are so many lubricating oils on the market that it can be difficult to find the right one, but you must preserve and ensure you choose a good quality gearbox oil, like Mobil ATF LT 71141. The oil must also be compatible with your gearbox to avoid a whole host of problems, like overheating and equipment failure.

3. Keep it clean

The majority of gearboxes are not exactly kept in the cleanest of conditions, and although some dust and dirt is inevitable, it is important that you do what you can to keep contaminants to a minimum. Luckily, all it takes to achieve this is regular maintenance with a duster and brush.

4. Monitor oil leaks

If your gearbox begins to leak oil, this could well be a sign that its seals have failed and this will allow in all manner of contaminants, from dust to water. Make sure you regularly check for oil leaks and get them fixed as soon as possible when they occur.

5. Stay cool

Nothing cuts the lifespan of your average gearbox more than overheating, which is why you should constantly be looking for the telltale signs, such as discoloured paint, oil in the glass and of course, excessive heat.

6. Perform vibration analysis

If you want to prevent premature failure of a gearbox, and your equipment is located in a noisy environment, it pays to invest in regular vibration analysis, which will pick up any problems that are going on inside your equipment, so that you can hopefully sort the problem out before it grows.

If you do all of the above and you still feel that your gearbox is not working to its full potential, it may be worth getting in touch with an expert who should be able to quickly identify any issues and help you to rectify them.

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