I'm trying to optimize our grease PM on Falk 1080T10 and 1120T10 couplings that have the grease changed every 24 months. The equipment is a set of Nash air removal pumps that operate only on plant startup every 2 years for approx. 120 minutes. Has anyone extended the grease change out frequency on this type of equipment and if so how did you determine PM frequency ?

I guess if it was up to me, all I would do is check to make sure the coupler is full before each use. Just take out 2 of the plugs, screw the end of a grease gun with Falk grease into one plug, and purge some out of the other one. I would purge until you see some fresh grease come out.

Have you ever considered a non-lubricated coupling instead of your current metallic grid Steelflex? Depending on your application, there are likely other viable alternatives from other manufacturers.

Hi,

I would say the cost of rebuild or failure versus related expense of PM doesn't justify not following OEM guidelines. However, I might experiment with a polyurea grease that contains an extremely high oil content. Moreover, this type of thickner is not a soap and will stay together you will not have as much seperation regarding thickner and base oil. This will facilitate the grease holding its integrity over a long period of idle time.

You could fill your coupling with a synthetic oil with an extremely high viscosity such as an ISO 22,000 or 46,000.

Oils such as these have proven to perform extremely well in couplings (in which leakage is minimal) and would merely require the level to be checked before each start up. Oils at this high of viscosity have the consistency of NLGI 1 to 1.5 greases without the problems associated with thickener seperation.

agree with mark on this one. Falk LTG grease has a expected life of 5 years however if you use any other grease recommended by falk verses their own line then they recommend 1 year re grease.
we usually pop both plugs and as recommended by falk pump until it comes out the bottom opening.
We have had no problems using this method.
I am planning to do some research on the Falk grease inorder to extend my frequency.