Leaky Shaft Seals

What to do

By: Dan Wise

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            Many people operate rotary screw compressors with oil seeping from around the shaft.  This housekeeping nuisance and waste of expensive oil can be avoided with a better understanding of the shaft seal.

            The mechanical seal and lip seal are the most common types of shaft seals used on Rotary Screw compressors.  The following provides further information specific to each of these styles.

  Mechanical Seals

            Most mechanical shaft seals work on the same basic principle.  A contact sealing face composed of soft, sacrificial face material forms a seal against a hard material. 

            Seal faces are lapped to within two to four helium light bands (.0000232 to .0000464 inches).  This critical tolerance makes a shaft seal on the most precise pieces of equipment in…

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