Leaking Mechanical Seal? Think Twice Before Tightening

To properly install a mechanical seal,  consider the following precautions:

• Reading the installation instructions is strongly advised.
• Components should never be forced to go together. They’re easily damaged and expensive to replace.
• Workspace and hands should be clean. Small amounts of dirt and grime will damage seal faces.
• Don’t over torque fasteners.

So the fasteners are a little tight, so what?

Overtightening puts undue stress on the mechanical seal internals. This sets the seal up for failure from mechanical shock. Mechanical shock is caused by bad bearings, cavitation, excessive torque, uneven loading, and misaligned shafts. Mechanical shock commonly occurs due to mishandling and improper assembly of the seal.

Overtightening also can compress the springs and add additional loading forces on the seal faces. This causes the seal to run hotter than it should, and most likely wear sooner than expected. 

When mechanical seal fasteners are overtightened, the stationary seal components become distorted, gaskets can be damaged or extruded, all resulting in leakage.

If a mechanical seal is leaking, restrain yourself from the natural tendency to tighten, and try loosening instead. Oftentimes this works.

How do I keep from overtightening during installation?

Check the installation manual for guidance on just how tight to fasten those bolts. Consider employing a torque wrench to ensure accuracy.

If leaking persists after ensuring proper torque on the fasteners, consider getting a mechanical seal expert involved. They may be able to save you a lot of time and frustration troubleshooting the seal.