How to maintain a fish feed pellet machine during the winter season

 

 

In winter maintenance records for fish pellet machines, the proportion of "excessive screw wear" and "bearing seizure" is over 40% higher than in summer. A newly replaced screw from one manufacturer lasted six months in summer, but required replacement after only two months in winter due to severe wear. Some extruders have even experienced motor burnout due to bearing seizure. This is primarily due to the low temperatures in winter, which increase lubricant viscosity, reduce lubrication effectiveness, and increase dry friction between components. Proper lubrication maintenance is crucial for winter equipment maintenance.

 

 

1. Switch to winter-specific lubricants: Avoid increased viscosity and lubrication failure.

 Reason: Ordinary lubricants (such as #68 gear oil used in summer) experience a significant increase in viscosity at low winter temperatures (viscosity at -10°C can be over six times that at 20°C), preventing them from forming a uniform oil film on component surfaces. This lack of lubrication increases dry friction and wear in moving parts like screw bearings and gears (for example, gear wear increases from 0.1mm/month in summer to 0.3mm/month in winter).

 

 Note: Select lubricant based on the local minimum winter temperature: Use No. 15 or No. 22 low-temperature gear oil in northern regions below -20°C, and No. 32 low-temperature gear oil in southern regions above 0°C. For high-speed rotating components such as screw bearings, use lithium-based grease with good low-temperature performance (such as No. 00 or No. 1 lithium-based grease). Before changing lubricants, thoroughly clean the lubrication system (such as the gearbox and bearing seat) to remove any remaining old oil and impurities (mixing old and new oil will reduce lubrication effectiveness). Ensure the amount of new oil added meets equipment requirements (for example, the gearbox oil level should be between 1/2 and 2/3 of the mark). Avoid overfilling or underfilling.

 

 

2. Increase the frequency of lubrication refills: Compensate for poor lubricant fluidity at low temperatures.

 Reason: Lubricant fluidity is poor in winter, slowing its penetration into component gaps (for example, the lubricant penetration time for the die sliding parts increases from 8 minutes in summer to 18 minutes in winter). Lubrication points previously refilled once a day may experience localized dry friction due to insufficient lubricant, leading to die wear (scratches and impaired pellet formation).

 

 Note: Adjust the refill frequency for key lubrication points (such as screw bearings and die guide sleeves) from "once a day" in summer to "twice a day" in winter, increasing the refill volume by 10%-15% compared to summer (but be careful to avoid overfilling, which could cause lubricant overflow and contamination of the raw material). When refilling grease with a grease gun, preheat the grease at 25-30°C for one hour to reduce viscosity and facilitate refilling. After each refill, manually rotate the component (such as the die) to ensure even distribution of the grease on the friction surfaces.

 

 

 

3.Cleaning Lubrication System Components: Preventing Impurities from Blocking Oil Passages

 Reasons: In winter, dry air allows raw material dust to easily enter the lubrication system (such as gearbox breather holes and bearing housing seals), mixing with the increased viscosity of the lubricating oil to form sludge. This sludge can clog oil passages (such as lubricating oil pipes and bearing oil passages), preventing lubricating oil from reaching lubrication points and causing component wear due to insufficient lubrication (e.g., screw bearings overheating due to lack of lubrication, with temperatures rising above 80℃).

 

 Precautions: Clean the gearbox breather hole weekly (using compressed air to blow away dust) and check the breather filter element for blockage (replace it promptly if blocked); disassemble the bearing housing seals every two weeks, clean the seals and bearing surfaces with gasoline to remove sludge, and replace damaged seals (such as skeleton oil seals to prevent dust from re-entering); check the lubrication oil pipes monthly, blowing them with compressed air (pressure 0.4-0.6MPa) to ensure unobstructed oil passages; if a large amount of impurities are found in the lubricating oil, replace the oil immediately and clean the lubrication system.

 

 

 

 

 

MIKIM boasts extensive experience in poultry feed pellet production lines, significantly reducing the incidence of poultry diseases. Its equipment is not only widely used across various industries domestically but also exported to Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, earning a high reputation internationally. This global presence not only demonstrates the adaptability and competitiveness of its products, but also demonstrates the company's experience in adapting to diverse market standards and logistics conditions, enabling it to provide a stable supply chain for its overseas customers. Whether serving large domestic farms or cross-border feed companies, MIKIM can leverage its global service network to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience.

 

For more information on process flow design, equipment layout, factory construction plans, individual equipment pricing, or turnkey project proposals, please feel free to contact us!!!

 

 

 

1. What is the price of the fish pellet making machine?

The price ranges from approximately $5,000-$15,000

2. Do you provide maintenance services for your customers?
Yes, we offer comprehensive after-sales maintenance services to our customers.

 

 

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