Date: 12 January 2018 Bulletin Number: TDS-03-28 Revision: G Top Drive Subject: Product Model: Effectivity: Affected Assemblies: Periodic Lubrication of TDS-9SA, -11SA and -11HP AC Drilling Motors All Varco TDS-9SA, -10SA, -10RR, -10SH, -11SA, -11SH*,-11HD and -11HP Top Drive Drilling Systems All AC Drilling Motors used on product Model Listed Above Drilling Motor Assembly, AC, Random Wound (P/N 118217-Multiple Dash Nos.) Drilling Motor Assembly, AC, Form Wound (P/N 10899713-001) Drill Motor Assembly, PM (P/N M611005936)* *Note: Used on -11SH model Objective Advise customers of the supplier recommendations for motor greasing and provide additional information on the methodology and frequency for the lubrication of the AC Drilling Motors used on the TDS-9, -10, and -11 Product Lines. Information was added regarding short and long term lubrication requirement for both top drives and motors in storage. A previous revision to this product bulletin outlined the procedure for the first time and follow-on greasing of the VAR3 motors, which were newly introduced at that time. This revision will address all Baldor/Reliance drilling motors up through VAR4 random wound, XL Rigmaster form wound, and Permanent Magnet (PM) motor types. Issue NOV has received multiple reports of drilling motor failures on portable top drives including bearing failures due to 1) lack of lubrication and/or 2) corrosion caused by contamination of lubrication. There have been questions as to whether drilling motors are being supplied on new NOV Top Drives already greased, as well as questions regarding methodology and the amount of lubricant to be used. We would like to address each of these points. NOV has reviewed our current lubrication requirements in the Maintenance section of the affected Top Drive service manuals and has determined that there are some areas that need to be clarified. TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 1 of 14
Solution The current service manuals for the TDS-9SA, -10SA, -10RR, -10SH, -11SA, -11SH, -11HD, and -11HP Top Drive Drilling Systems require periodic lubrication of the upper and lower AC drilling motor bearings. The service manual instructs the TDS customers to grease each motor in two locations, once every three months or 1,500 operating hours, whichever occurs first. To lubricate each point normally requires the removal of the grease access plugs, installation of the grease fittings, removal of the grease outlet relief, greasing with a hand grease gun, and reinstallation of the grease access plugs and reliefs. On the TDS-11HP Top Drives, due to the accessibility of the grease inlet plug located at the upper end of the motor being limited, the plug has been removed and installation of a tubing assembly has been added to facilitate greasing (refer to Figure 5). On VAR3, VAR4, XL Rigmaster, and PM AC drilling motors, the location of the grease access and grease relief or drain plugs at the lower (drive) end of the motor have been relocated, adjacent to each other and include nameplates for easy identification. The locations of the grease access and grease relief or drain plugs located at the upper end of the motor have not changed and are still located 180 degrees apart (refer to Figures 1-11). Baldor/Reliance has also enlarged the hole size for the grease and relief or drain holes on both the upper and lower (drive) end of the motor to improve the distribution of grease. The drilling motors that NOV uses on the top drive models noted above are supplied by Baldor/Reliance. The drilling motor bearings are hand-greased with Chevron Black Pearl EP during the motor assembly process, where the bracket cavity at each end of the motor is hand-filled to approximately 60 percent by volume. The grease inlet and outlet ports are also filled with grease prior to grease plugs and grease reliefs being installed. The final step in the motor assembly process is to perform a motor test. When the Top Drive is delivered to the customer, the lubrication requirements are documented on the nameplates mounted adjacent to the grease inlets on both the drive end and opposite drive ends of the drilling motor (see Figures 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10). The grease inlet and grease outlets are marked with stainless steel nameplates at each end of the motor. The volume of grease required and frequency of greasing is also noted on each nameplate. TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 2 of 14
Note: The drilling motor lubrication nameplates denote the required amount of lubricant by volume. The NOV Maintenance section of the Top Drive Service Manual denotes the required amount of lubricant by number of pumps with grease gun. This is one area where some inconsistencies with documentation has been identified. Since the amount of grease delivered is dependent on the type of grease gun being used, NOV strongly recommends that rig maintenance personnel identify the grease gun being used to lubricate the drilling motors. Also, personnel should pump grease into a calibrated container to correlate the number of pumps to the required volume denoted on the nameplates. One other alternative recommendation would be for customers to procure a grease meter. There are several battery-operated grease meters on the market that have digital readouts for control of greasing and may be used for determining number of pumps to produce the recommended volume of grease. Caution: As these grease meters are battery-operated they may not be certified for use in a hazardous area. Greasing Procedure 1. Relubrication of the drilling motor with the shaft stationary and the motor warm is recommended. Opposite or Non-Drive End of Motor 2. Wipe all dirt from the outside of the grease inlet plugs and grease outlet relief on the opposite side of the motor. 3. Locate the grease inlet at the top of the bearing hub, and remove the outboard grease access plug at the upper end of the motor. Using a wire, clear any hardened grease prior to installing the grease fitting. 4. Replace the 1/8-inch pipe plug with a grease fitting, if necessary. 5. Remove the grease outlet plugs or relief located on the opposite side of the motor of grease fitting. Warning: In the following step, do not overlubricate. 6. Using a manual grease gun, pump in the recommended amount of grease shown on the nameplate. 7. Wipe away any excess grease at the grease drain or relief, and replace the plug and relief. Note: On the grease outlets reliefs, make sure that the relief is functional (i.e. confirm cap moves when pulled on) and not seized due to paint. TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 3 of 14
Drive End of Motor 8. Wipe all dirt from the outside of the grease inlet plugs and grease outlet relief, located adjacent to each other. 9. Locate the grease inlet and remove the outboard grease access plug. Using a wire, clear any hardened grease prior to installing the grease fitting. 10. Replace the 1/8-inch pipe plug with a grease fitting, if necessary. 11. Remove the grease outlet relief located on the motor adjacent to the grease fitting. Warning: In the following step, do not overlubricate. 12. Using a manual grease gun, pump in the recommended amount of grease shown on the nameplate. 13. Wipe away any excess grease at the grease inlet or relief. Replace the grease fitting with the plug, and reinstall the relief fitting. Note: On the grease outlets reliefs, make sure that the relief is functional (i.e. confirm cap moves when pulled on) and not seized due to paint. Greasing Procedure (For Top Drives in Extended Storage > 3 Months) 1. Repeat steps 2-13 described in the previous Greasing Procedure. 2. The Top Drive main shaft must be manually rotated a minimum of two (2) times every three (3) months, and regreased every (9) nine months. 3. Motors are to be greased per steps 2-13 in the previous Greasing Procedure at the time of removal from storage. Greasing Procedure (For Spare Drilling Motors in Extended Storage > 3 Months) 1. Repeat steps 2-13 described in the previous Greasing Procedure. 2. The motor shaft must be manually rotated a minimum of 15 times every three (3) months, and regreased every (9) nine months. 3. Motors are to be greased per steps 2-13 in the previous Greasing Procedure at the time of removal from storage. TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 4 of 14
VAR3/4 Drilling Motors Figure 1. View of TDS-11SA with Grease Inlet and Outlet Locations TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 5 of 14
Figure 2. Grease Locations, Drive End (VAR 3/4) Figure 3. Grease Locations, Opposite Drive End (VAR 3/4) TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 6 of 14
Figure 4. Grease Locations, Opposite Drive End (VAR 3/4) TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 7 of 14
Grease Inlet Figure 5. View of Tubing with Grease Inlet on TDS-11HP TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 8 of 14
XL Rigmaster (Form Wound) Drilling Motor Figure 6. Drive End Grease Locations (XL Rigmaster Form Wound) TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 9 of 14
Bracket Grease Outlet Hole Inner Cap Grease Outlet Hole Opposite Drive End Bottom Figure 7. Opposite Drive End Grease Locations (XL Rigmaster Form Wound) TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 10 of 14
Grease Inlet Hole Opposite Drive End Top Inner Cap Grease Inlet Opposite Drive End Top Figure 8. Opposite Drive End Grease Locations (XL Rigmaster Form Wound) TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 11 of 14
Permanent Magnet (PM) Drilling Motor Figure 9. Grease Access Plug and Relief, Drive End of PM Drilling Motor Grease Inlet Plug Figure 10. Grease Inlet Plug - Opposite Drive End of PM Drilling Motor TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 12 of 14
Grease Relief Figure 11. Grease Relief-Opposite Drive End of PM Drilling Motor TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 13 of 14
Ordering and Contact Information Please contact your local National Oilwell Varco (NOV) Service Center, with reference to Product Bulletin TDS-03-28 (Rev G), for further assistance. Economic Impact No Economic implication. Customers should also refer to previous NOV Product Bulletins for additional information related to this issue and information regarding safe operation, maintenance, and inspection criteria by signing in to your MYNOV account at https://portal.mynov.com and then searching with the Product Bulletin Search available below the heading Application Groups. For information on registering, please visit https://www.nov.com/search/register.aspx. Failure to follow the recommendations and/or guidance in NOV Manuals and Product Bulletins may result in death, bodily injury or property damage. Please contact your local National Oilwell Varco (NOV) Service Center if you have any questions regarding this bulletin. Revision History Revision Date Change Description (00 Month 0000) (vertical line to the side of a paragraph indicates a change) - 7 November 2003 Initial release G 12 January 2018 Revised product bulletin to incorporate lubrication requirements for drilling motors in short and long term storage TDS-03-28/Rev G Page 14 of 14