Testimonials
Almaplex® 1275 lubricant effectively quieted a noisy bearing, saving over $400 at a Kansas detention center.
key takeaways
Challenge
Maintenance mechanic Gregg Quackenbush reported that the commercial grade grease used on fan shaft bearings was ineffective, requiring daily application to temporarily reduce noise, but ultimately leading to premature bearing failure.
LE solution
The LE lubrication consultant recommended Almaplex® Industrial Lubricant (1275) to maintenance mechanics Gregg Quackenbush and Barry Voelker, who were skeptical about its ability to quiet a noisy bearing.
Results
Using Almaplex 1275 successfully quieted a noisy bearing, leading to the return of a new bearing and saving Johnson County over $400, while earning praise from facilities manager Dave Bedford and maintenance mechanics Gregg and Barry.
1275 not only quieted that bearing down, but me too!
- Gregg Quackenbush
Customer Profile
The Adult Detention Center of the Fred Allenbrand Criminal Justice Complex, located in New Century, Kansas, is a minimum security jail for Johnson County, Kansas and surrounding cities. The complex was completed in 1998 as an addition to the Johnson County jail located in Olathe, approximately seven miles away.
Application
The Adult Detention Center has 11 air handler units that provide heat, ventilation and air conditioning throughout the building. The large fans on the air handlers are powered by Baldor electric motors that operate at over 1,700 rpm.
Challenge
The commercial grade grease they were using to lubricate the bearings on the fan shafts would not stay in place, causing the bearings to be noisy and fail prematurely. In one particular unit, according to Gregg Quackenbush, maintenance mechanic, he would grease the noisy bearing which would quiet it down for a short time and then it would become noisy again overnight. “Quack” as he’s called by his teammates, would grease the bearing daily only to have it noisy again the next day. He said you’d be able to hear it from the floor below.
LE Solution
The local LE lubrication consultant, recommended Almaplex® Industrial Lubricant (1275), assuring maintenance mechanics, Gregg Quackenbush and Barry Voelker, that Almaplex 1275 would quiet the bearing.
As the LE consultant was leaving to get a tube of Almaplex 1275 for them to try, “Quack” rolled his eyes and said, “Yea, right! No way will another grease quiet down that bearing!”
Results
A new bearing had been ordered to replace the noisy one and while in the process of replacing it, they were having trouble removing the housing. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to get the bearing out of the housing, Gregg and Barry purged the bearing of the commercial grease with Almaplex 1275 as a last resort.
That was nearly one year ago. As Gregg says, “1275 not only quieted that bearing down, but me too!”
The new bearing was returned saving Johnson County more than $400.
Dave Bedford, facilities manager, says that his guys are extremely happy with Almaplex 1275 and are glad to get a case of tubes on order. Maintenance mechanics, Gregg and Barry, both said that they had their doubts in the beginning, but are both now sold on Almaplex 1275.