I look at a lot of equipment each month equipped with flexible couplings. Of course, coupling guards are built for safety and not necessarily for easy viewing. Does anyone out there have any good tricks to share on how they manage to get a decent view of the majority of a coupling while inspecting it for damage under a strobe light? Those tiny little slits in the coupling guards aren’t too friendly to old eyes.

Any advice on what may work for you would be appreciated.

Gary Forsythe

Gary,

An inspection mirror will help sometimes, but it is another thing to drag around.

I tell my clients to make their guards so that I can see the coupling and one of them really did

They make bifocal safety glasses, you know?

I measure ultrasound emissions to evaluate coupling condition. I understand that OSHA has stringent requirements for size of openings in coupling guard. I believe hole/opening size is limited to about 1/2" or less than typical finger size. It is nice to view a coupling with a strobe, but observation does not alway reveal true condition.

Walt

It's always nice to know exact coupling used. Flexible covers a lot. Lubed; any grease being flung about and its color. Woods; any filings on the floor? Can you see axial movement at the machinery shaft case line.

Is the coupling the one you would select? Have lube info and alignment records? And I know that you are a good field man with lots of experience; sorry to cover fundamentals but a lot of folks read this thread - someone may benefit. Top of the day Gary.

Gary,
I have the same issue with coupling guards. What I have tried to implement is replacing the guards as needed with guards that are made from expanded metal. This is a slow process but they are easy to see through. I have had some new equipment come in that had expanded metal guards and had an inspection door. Depends on the company safety policy for the door, safety reasons.