Lubricating an electric motor correctly is key insuring you receive maximum life from your motors. One can purchase the best motors money can buy, use Laser Alignment, and all the things one must do to optimize motor life and it will fail is electric motors are lubricated incorrectly. This Tool Box Talk helps one educate your maintenance team in known best maintenance practices. Check it out, it may save stop help stop premature motor failures in your organization. Use this Tool Box Talk before your begin a Preventive Maintenance Optimization process.

1. Lubricating an Electric Motor
“TOOL BOX TRAINING”
Instructor: Maintenance Supervisor
If you would like any back issues of Tool Box Training Series send
an email to rsmith@gpallied.com
www.gpallied.com
Copyright 2010
GPAllied
4360 Corporate Road
Suite 110
Charleston, SC 29405
Office (843) 414-5760
Fax (843) 414-5779
General Rules
- Always follow lubrication procedure
provided
- If an electric motor is not lasting more than
8-10 years read my next Tool Box Training
Session and make something happen
- Anyone lubricating a motor should be
qualified to use the grease gun. This process
requires a procedure to be written with
specifications and ensure the person follows
the procedure
General Issues
Most companies experience motor bearing failure
however and are not sure why the bearing failed.
Three of the reasons we will consider in this in this
Tool Box Training Session are:
1. Lack of Lubrication
2. Over-lubrication (grease enters motor
windings or pushes out seal contaminating
the bearing)
3. Contamination
Steps to Successful Motor Bearing Lubrication
By Matt Spurlock MLA III, MLT, LLA
1. WARNING: Motor needs to be operating
while lubricating if at all possible otherwise
the grease will not transfer around the
bearing as required.
2. Ensure you have a manual grease gun with
the appropriate grease type for electric
motor.
NOTE: If using an ultrasound grease gun add
these steps to the Ultrasound Gun
Procedure.
3. Inspect electric motor for visual defects (i.e.
seals leakage, excessive build up in fins,
grease fitting damage, etc.)
4. Remove grease relief plugs
5. Wipe off any debris or excess grease from
zerk fitting and end of grease gun
6. Attach grease gun to appropriate zerk fitting
7. SLOWLY apply grease paying attention to
any excessive back pressure on the grease
gun
a. If back pressure is felt, this could
indicate the presence of hardened
grease in the lines/tubes that should
be cleaned out
8. Grease should be applied only to a volume
that has been pre-determined either
through OEM or calculated volumes. This
information should be listed on your
lubrication check sheet
9. If fresh grease is seen being expelled from
relief port, discontinue application
10. Allow motor to run a minimum of 15
minutes prior to replacing relief plugs
11. Replace grease cap or put a small amount of
grease on zerk fitting to help with
contamination control
Next Tool Box Session: Why Electric Motors Fail?
Send me the estimated life of your current electric
motors between 5-50 HP at rsmith@gpallied.com

2. Lubricating an Electric Motor
“TOOL BOX TRAINING”
Instructor: Maintenance Supervisor
If you would like any back issues of Tool Box Training Series send
an email to rsmith@gpallied.com
www.gpallied.com
Copyright 2010
GPAllied
4360 Corporate Road
Suite 110
Charleston, SC 29405
Office (843) 414-5760
Fax (843) 414-5779