Testimonials
Tenn-Luttrell Lime Company successfully extended gear life using Pyroshield® Syn Hvy Open Gear Lubricant.
key takeaways
Challenge
Switching to a more stable, heat-resistant lubricant could prevent premature gear wear, spalling, and fires, potentially saving significant maintenance costs and downtime in the lime quarry’s rotary kiln operations.
LE solution
Pyroshield® Syn Hvy Open Gear Lubricant (9000) is a specialized, heavy synthetic fluid designed for large open gears requiring an EP, lead-free, nonasphaltic lubricant.
Results
By switching to Pyroshield 9000, Tenn-Luttrell avoided the $150,000 cost of replacing their open gear and the $30,000 labor expense, successfully extending the gearset’s life by eight years.
Customer Profile
Tenn-Luttrell Lime Company has been in business for 18 years, manufacturing quicklime, hydrated lime, and crushed and pulverized limestone products. They have been an LE customer for 11 years.
Application
A KVS rotary kiln, which has a rated 800 tons per day of lime production, is used in the manufacture of these lime products. The KVS kiln is driven by two General Electric 100 hp electric motors. The lubricant is dipped out of a common sump and placed on the pinions by fiber oiling pinions.
Challenge
The environment of the lime quarry is very dusty and hot. While using a commercial asphaltic-type lubricant, they were experiencing premature gear tooth wear, heavy contact point spalling and fires caused by volatile lubricant components. The temperature on the shell of the kiln is 500°F (260°C). This rotary kiln operates 330 days per year, 24 hours a day.
LE Solution
Pyroshield® Syn Hvy Open Gear Lubricant (9000) was recommended as it is a unique, extremely heavy, synthetic fluid developed specifically for large open gears that are closely shrouded and that call for an EP, lead- free, nonasphaltic lubricant.
Results
At the time Tenn-Luttrell was introduced to Pyroshield 9000, they were preparing to replace the open gear at a cost of $150,000 plus $30,000 labor. However, eight years later, after converting to Pyroshield 9000, they have been able to continue to use this same gearset.