MAINTENANCE

Feature: 2000 maintenance tips & tricks

Winner of the 2000 “Maintenance Tip of the Year” was Ralph Dewey, Solvay Polymers, Deer Park, TX. He received $1000 for his suggestion on how to quickly find leaks in gas service piping flanges.

Runners-up were Tom Goodman, Champion Laboratories, Albion, IL, and Paul Salvo, Eaton Corp. TCC, East Lake, OH. Mr. Goodman explained how to remove seized pins in flywheels, and Mr. Salvo presented a solution for stopping sewer gas smells.

Tip of the Year

Finding leaks

Problem: You are pretty sure that a flange in gas service is leaking. How can you prove it?

Solution: Take a piece of 2-in.-wide masking tape and wrap it around the flange connection. Poke a pinhole in the center of the tape. If the flange is leaking, gas can only escape through that point.

Apply a soap and water solution to the pinhole. If bubbles or foam appear, the flange is leaking.

Contributor: Ralph Dewey, Solvay Polymers, Deer Park, TX; 713-307-3784.

RUNNER-UP

Pumping pins

Problem: A pin has seized in a flywheel and no amount of work will pull it out. How do I remove the pin?

Solution: Drill a #3 hole from the opposite side of the flywheel and tap 1/4-28 thd. Insert a grease zerk and “pump” the pin out safely and quickly. The grease gun generates 2500 psi.

Contributor: Tom Goodman, Maintenance Superintendent, Champion Laboratories, Inc., Albion, IL; Tom_Goodman@ Champlabs.com

RUNNER-UP

Stopping gas

Problem: Most floor drains not actively used tend to dry out. Sewer gases can escape when this occurs.

Can the gases be stopped from escaping?

Solution: Pour 1/4 cup of cooking oil in the floor drain. The oil floats to the top of the water and prevents it from evaporating.

Contributor: Paul Salvo, Eaton Corp. TCC, East Lake, OH

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