BASIC MECHANICAL SEAL

INSTALLATION

By : Dewi Tri Handayani

Pre – Seal Installation Checks

1. Bearing must be in good condition

2. Clean stuffing box bore and face thoroughly.
• Ensure both are sufficiently smooth to make good gasket joint.
• Ensure seal chamber face is square to the shaft centerline
• Ensure that the shaft centerline is concentric to the seal chamber bore
3. Ensure shaft is clean. Break all shaft corners on shaft steps, threads, reliefs,
shoulders, keyways, etc.
4. To ease installation, gaskets may be lubricated. Lubricant to be compatible to
both pump fluid and gasket material. Generally, silicon grease is acceptable.

2
Equipment Checks

EQUIPMENT CHECKS NEEDED :

1. End Play
2. Radial Deflection
3. Shaft Run – Out
4. Stuffing Box to Shaft Perpendicular
5. Stuffing Box Concentricity

3
End Play
1. End Play [0.002” or 0.05mm TIR maximum]
What?
Dial indicator check of
the thrust bearing and
its fit in the housing by
moving the shaft back
and forth.

Why?
Axial movement of the
shaft will over or under
compress the seal. Also,
it can cause pin wear
and fretting damage to
the sleeve.

4
Radial Deflection
2. Radial Deflection [0.002” or 0.05mm TIR maximum]
What?
Dial indicator check of
the radial deflection
(up & down) of the
shaft. This is a check of
the radial bearing and
its fit in the housing.

Why?
Deflection causes
misalignment of the
rotor and stator of the
seal. This shortens seal
life by overworking the
drive and spring
members.

5
Shaft Run Out
3. Shaft Run Out [0.002” or 0.05mm TIR maximum]
What?
Dial indicator check of the
shaft and sleeve for
roundness and
straightness. Also drive
end of the shaft for a
bend.

Why?
Run-out or whip causes
face wipe. Excessive wipe,
affected by seal size and
shaft speed, causes
leakage and emission
problem. Should the drive
end be bent, you can
expect pump and motor
bearing problems as well
as coupling wear.
6
Perpendicular
4. Stuffing Box to Shaft Perpendicular [0.003” or 0.08mm TIR maximum]
What?
Dial indicator check of the
perpendicularity of the
stuffing box face to the
shaft. If it is out, it may be
the face itself or the register
fit of the rear cover (stuffing
box) to the bearing frame or
adapter. It must be
corrected.

Why?
Lack of perpendicularity will
overwork a seal to the point
of premature failure. The
drive, dynamic gasket and
spring mechanism can all
be points of wear.

7
Concentricity
5. Gland Register or Stuffing Box Concericity
[0.003” or 0.08mm TIR maximum] What?
Dial indicator check of
the seal flange and its
fit onto or into the
stuffing box to assess
concentricity.

Why?
Lack of concentricity is
not a major problem
but if a pumping device
or close clearance
bushing is incorporated
into the seal. As such, it
is good practice to
consider it always
critical.

8
QUESTION ??