Rewind, Replace or Repair your Failed Motor?

Keeping away from potential motor failure should be at the forefront of your mind, as it can have not only a great impact to you financially but also in terms of productivity. However, when the worst does happen, you’ll need to rectify the issue quickly and efficiently to minimise the impact downtime can have on your business.

To rewind, to repair or to replace the failed motor is the question on everyone’s mind. To make the best choice, plant maintenance and engineering teams need to evaluate a number of factors.

Here, motor repair specialist Houghton International explains what should be considered to make an informed decision in the event of a failed motor:

Repairing vs Replacing

We all jump to conclusions when things like this happen and try to repair as quickly as possible. However, in some cases, repair work may not be the most cost-effective pathway.

Older motors might benefit from a replacement. The EPAct and EISA law are working in tandem to set new efficiency standards for electric motors, and we’ve seen significant improvements in efficiencies over the years. If your motor is older, you may not be seeing the cost-savings that these new motors offer, which can be substantial over the lifetime of the motor.

As it is in most cases, repairing something will work out cheaper than if you were to replace it. However, with motors, you should balance the short-term costs with long-term savings to make an informed decision that will truly benefit your business.

Downtime

Most of the time, motor failure is not a secluded occurrence. With a number of processes relying on the motor’s performance, downtime can have a significant impact on other areas of the plant, stopping productivity in its tracks.

Each cost of downtime is different with each company you work with, it is best to work out what the costs are in case your motor was to ever fail. By doing so, you can then work out the best course of action. For example, if parts are needed or repair work will take an extended period of time, you could end up sacrificing a significant amount of revenue. In these instances, you may need to consider alternative measures, such as temporary fixes or the prospect of installing a new motor that is readily available.

Avoiding motor failure should be one of your top priorities. There are several different types of maintenance that can be carried out to ensure the longevity of your electrical motor.

Preventative maintenance is also important — always remember what issues could occur and you will be in a good position to avoid them. Carry out regular work like cleaning, lubrication and performance monitoring to prevent issues from arising. Predictive maintenance also includes monitoring the motor’s performance over time and establishing trends to work out when potential issues can arise, then putting measures in place to stop them.

The worst thing that could happen is your motor failing. While you’ll need to consider how best to react in such a scenario, the emphasis is clearly on preventing the situation arising at all, avoiding wasted time and lost revenue.