How should the coupling of a centrifugal pump be installed onto the motor shaft and the pump shaft?

Some customers have limited space conditions. When installing the coupling for the pump products manufactured by ATACH Industrial Pump Factory, sometimes they use a hammer to strike forcefully at the motor shaft end or the pump shaft end. This method is not advisable. So, how should the coupling be installed at the motor shaft end and the pump shaft end? 

The installation of the coupling for a centrifugal pump is a crucial step to ensure a reliable connection between the pump and the motor. It must strictly follow the procedures of alignment, fixation, and inspection. The installation process mainly includes foundation preparation, coupling connection, concentricity adjustment, and final inspection.

‌Preparation before installation:‌ First, ensure that the pump and the motor have been installed on a stable foundation and calibrate the levelness of the pump shaft and the motor shaft using a level gauge. After the anchor bolts are tightened, clean the base and confirm that there is no skew.‌

‌Coupling connection method:‌ The coupling is usually connected rigidly through a key or directly with bolts. Key connection requires inserting the key into the keyway of the motor output end and the keyhead of the pump shaft. It is simple in structure but difficult to disassemble; elastic couplings or mechanical couplings are connected through bolts to the intermediate section. When installing, align the shaft ends and leave a 2-3mm gap, then tighten with bolts.‌

‌Concentricity adjustment and alignment:‌ This is the core step of the installation. It is necessary to ensure that the two shafts are strictly concentric. Use a dial indicator or feeler gauge to measure the coupling hub, checking the end face clearance and radial deviation: the maximum and minimum difference of the end face clearance within one week shall not exceed 0.3mm, and the deviation of the outer circle in the up, down, left, and right directions shall not exceed 0.1mm. If not concentric, adjust by adding shims under the motor base feet until the deviation is controlled within 0.05mm; after adjustment, recheck the levelness and tighten the anchor bolts.‌

‌Final inspection and operation preparation:‌ After installation, manually rotate the coupling to check if it is smooth and uniform without sticking or abnormal noise. Check if the protective cover is installed properly and confirm the correct motor rotation direction before conducting a trial run.