The level of efficiency of a hydraulic pump is more often than not determined by how good or poor the pump packing job is. Even the performance of the most efficient brands will still be affected by the kind of packing job done on them. However, many people are unaware of the importance of the skills employed in installation of the packing. Other people just do not know how to go about it, and they have to devise their own ways usually based on guesswork. The result is part or total failure of the job.

Removal of Old Packing

Whether you have had to repack your system in the process of fitting some new pump parts or it is part of repair and maintenance practices, your first step should be removal of old packing. Pump repacking is often done during outages when there is no time to be wasted. Therefore, there is always a temptation to remove just a few of the packing rings and hydraulic components. However, resisting and removing everything is likely to be rewarded with success of the entire packing job. Ensure that the bore and the shaft are not damaged by the sharp tools usually used in removal of packing.

Measuring and Recording

The important dimensions that require measurement and recording include the bore and shaft diameters as well as the depth of the box. The lantern ring length and flush port location should be measured in cases where a flush injection has been used. The measurements are crucial in not only ensuring that the lantern and the flush port are properly aligned but also establishing whether there have been problems with the pumps flush operation.

Cutting into Rings

Wrong cutting of rings usually has a negative effect on the performance of the pump packing. That said, many technicians size the new rings according to the measurements of the old ones. However, there is a huge possibility of the previous technician having cut the rings wrongly, with the mistakes passed down to others who use the old measurements to cut new rings. In addition, the old rings may have been affected by chemicals which may have caused deformation or shrinking.

A mandrel is one of the best ways of ensuring that you size your rings accurately. Its size should be similar to that of the stem or shaft. Placing it in a vise, wrap the packing around it to get the accurate measurement for the rings. Remember that there should be no gap when the cut ends of the individual packing rings are inserted into the stuffing box.

Conclusion

When you come to the actual installation, ensure that every inserted ring fits firmly into the stuffing box’s bottom before it is followed by another. The main reason behind this is achievement of a comprehensive load on the packing set’s depth. You can use several types of material as tamping tools during the installation process, including split tubing, metallic bushings, and corrugated cardboards—which are readily available from distributors of pump and hydraulic components in Brisbane. However, ensure that they are removed after the installation of every ring.