As it is written in the SOGEVAC instruction manual, every SOGEVAC stored in a static position for more than one year at 20°C can get into trouble because the ball bearings can be damaged and the shaft seals can stick onto the shaft seal sleeves, leading to a rubber tearing at first starting, thus creating an oil leak.

The V BELTS staying several months in the same position will be weakened. The oil in contact with air for one year will be a bit oxidized. Only running the pumps after long storage is not enough in order to check if the bearings are OK, and the shaft seals are tightened.

The oil must be changed.

Ball bearings

The print made by the steel balls in the race bushings are at the beginning really very small. No one will hear any noise the first working hours. The pumps ball bearings will become really noisy after 1 to 3000 hours. A short test after storage is not efficient.

Shaft seals

As the shaft seal is behind the ball bearings, in case of a small leak, the oil will need a long time to cross the ball bearing. In addition, there is a sealed plug in order to prevent any grease to go out and dust to pollute the ball bearing, a small oil leak will need several days or weeks, before it will appear outside the pumps.

So a short test will not be efficient.

That is why for most of the SOGEVAC pumps still belonging to Leybold Vacuum and stored for more than one year must have all the shaft seals and ball bearings exchanged.

If the pumps are belonging to the customer, the decision belongs to the customer.

On the SV 16/25 A range, it is easy after a long storage period to check if the shaft seal is tightened. The aluminium plate under the pumps has to be disassembled, and there is a direct access to the shaft seal.

On the SV 40/65/ B and BI , the fan/turbine and the motor have to be removed after the test .After the motor reassembly a motor test has to be made again.

On the SV 100 B , same checking as for SV 40/65 B . The motor test is not needed

On the biggest pumps , SV 300B up to SV 1200 The shaft seals and ball bearings have to be exchanged for new ones. Every time a shaft seal is changed, the corresponding shaft seal sleeve has to be changed.

For the biggest pumps with V-BELTS tighteners, the ball bearings of the belt tighteners have to be exchanged.

The V BELTS have to be exchanged.

Don’t forget the motor ball bearings. They will have to be supplied locally.

If you have questions about your Sogevac, contact Intlvac at 800-959-5517. For details on our vacuum pump repair services, click here. Our online service request form can be completed at any time and a representative will get back to you as soon as possible.