Lip seals require very little specific maintenance.
The only normal maintenance they require is a sufficient amount
of the correct type of lubricant. Since lip seals that protect
a bearing installation are normally exposed to the bearing's lubricant,
their lubrication is applied without any additional maintenance.
Lack of lubrication may cause the seal's lip to directly contact
the shaft, allowing friction to wear it away or tear it, causing
leakage, As you already know, lubricants that are incompatible
with the material type of the seal's flexible components can lead
to chemical breakdown of those components.
When working around an installed lip seal, follow these good
practices:
1. When painting a machine, be sure to cover the seal to
prevent the paint from getting on the lip or shaft.
2. While cleaning the shaft or surrounding area, don't
let the seals contact any agents or fluids that could damage them.
3. If changing the type of lubricant in a machine, check
catalogs or other literature provided by the seal manufacturer
to ensure that the new lubricant is compatible with any installed
lip seals. In fact, this recommendation should be extended
to all non-metallic components installed in the machine.
When problem with lip seals do occur, the troubleshooting hints
in the table below may help you identify the cause and corrective
actions.
