I'd like to know if anyone does, or just how many perform balance jobs on rubber boot couplings in the field. Clamp flange type or the orange one that's split axially.

I balanced one on a cooling tower motor. I changed one of the bolts to a longer one with washers. Worked great.

Ronnie

Hi Sid,
I recently ran across a situation with the orange type that surprised me. In dealing with an air compressor vibration problem a call was made to the coupling manufacturer and that some of the orange elements are matched at the factory per design of the comperssor manufacturer. Years ago while taking vibration out of a centrifugal blower the blower manufacturer had us rotate the element 180 degrees to iimprove the vibration. Measured vibration and it helped some and made other adjustments to the machine after the coupling rotation.

Ronnie, was that a clamped flange type? I've been thinking about using washers.
Don, still got the dogs? Good hearing from you.
I've had more failures with the orange peel than any type. I've always had a problem with going through all the steps to make equipment run well only to have the 1x amplitude ruined by the boot. Mostly, what I'm curious about is balancing the larger couplings that are on my axial split case pumps. Just curious how many people put an emphasis on this.

Sid,
The one I balanced had the split orange rubber boot. The bolts went in axially from the back side of the coupling. I had to be careful with the length of the bolt. If it was too long, it would cause misalignment. I am not sure if it was improper installation or what but the boot had about 1 inch gap at the split. The bolt and washers I added were almost in line with the split. It was like the gap had created a light spot.

Ronnie

We have had problems with the Rexnord Omega (orange tire) couplings in 3600 rpm applications. When we have high 1x including axial, we look closely at the coupling and have reduced the vib through balancing. I think the manufacturer uses the same tolerances regardless of what speed the coupling will be used for.

There is info on these couplings on the links near the bottom of this page.
http://www.rexnord.com/portal/couplings/

Matching is important. Also these couplings can develop fatigue cracks or a torsional set (I think Rusty posted some pictures of that). The manufacture recommends to consider replacing them periodically in critical applications. There is date code stamped on all omega couplings since 1990. Capscrews should not be used more than twice (then get new capscrew kit from the oem).

Big thing we have faced from the maintenance side is to follow the environmental installation recommendations. Several have had the orange rubber seperate from the metal flange. This was either from heat or fatigue. For the most part, we are using the orange type for slow rolling applications. They tend to take a set after some time in operation.

Good Luck! See you are still hanging in there! Going to any training soon?

We had to put our wolfdog down in June. Old age and cancer got him. Sure miss him. We still have the German Shephard and she is 6 now.

Over the years I've developed some rules of my own. Good, bad or: these are not necessiarly recommendations ... just some guidlines I use. I don't like them on anything above 1800 RPM and at that speed 50 HP or less. 1200 RPM and up to 100 HP and 900 or less up to 200 HP but only and if something else isn't outstandingly better if this is an explination.

A problem wiht the Dodge paraflex is paying very close attention to the boot's fit and tightening sequence - very critical. I try to avoid the orange boot but will recommend to anyone to check out OEM's web site and follow their recommendations and specifications closely. They are time stamped and must be recorded.

In the case of the Dodge paraflex and high 1X: the imbalance may be rectified by repositioning and re-tightening the boot, else slap a washer on. But using the rules above, mass and force is kept to a minimum.

Thanks all,
Sam, I like the guidelines. Very logical (to me!) and inline with my experience with the tire. Pete, thanks for the link. It appears that there are two dates, one stamped on the metal and one molded into the elastomer (on the inside...).
Ronnie, did you consider just replacing the boot? The one inch gap sounds unusual, but how you balanced it is exactly what I'm considering as my "new campaign". We're running out of oven fans!
Don, I'm sorry to hear about the wolfdog. I know you had him a long time and must be missed by all.
I'm still hanging in there (not sure how!). After all these years, I still enjoy this line of work, but not necessarily all that I've worked for. I guess one must take the bad with the good. My training doesn't appear to be in forecast anytime soon, so I'll just keep reading my new favorite mag "Uptime". Keep in touch, and thanks again. Sidney

Sid,
It wasn't my call. I pointed it out to the customer and recommended that it might need replacing. I made it run alot smoother and he was happy. So I was too

Ronnie

I guess having a hand in recommending the style and types of couplings is good. We did not good luck with the Omega (big orange). After destroying a couple of good guards, we got away from them. It was a case of a good sales person convincing one of our planners they had a better mouse trap.

Take it easy,
Gary B

I'm w/Gary on this: I do not like the design on the oragne boot; two clam-shell halves where one can fly off and leave the other driving the machines and causing damage and possible safety hazard. And why the time stamp isn't on the outside is anybodies guess.

With the spacer type of orange boot coupling, I have seen where one half of one side came unbolted from the hub. I was taking my regular route readings and saw the looseness with my strobe. By the time I had gone to maintenance and gotten the Planner to come and look (no more than 2 minutes) it had come completely apart leaving the steel half that bolts to the hub swinging from the orange boot. It completely destroyed the guard, sending parts of it into the pulper and was still swinging when we hit the e-stop. Glad I went to the shop and wasn't there when it came loose, but the orange boot is really tough