1300 NOBLE1 
As part of NES’s ongoing routine inspections at one of our major sites in Western NSW, a Condition Monitoring Technician recently identified a developing issue with a Boot End Pulley bearing.
Through vibration analysis, data trends revealed the early onset of an inner race bearing defect. Over time, the defect began trending upward, with increasing levels detected in the velocity spectrum, indicating that the condition was deteriorating.
Based on this data, the component’s status was upgraded from standard monitoring to requiring maintenance attention. Grease and purge procedures were actioned, and further recommendations were made to plan for the timely replacement of the bearing, helping prevent a potential unplanned failure, and avoiding potential breakdown time of around 24 hours.
Importantly, this particular Boot End Pulley is located within and beneath the Flexible Conveyor Train, making access and replacement significantly more complex. This challenging positioning reinforced the importance of early planning for replacement to avoid the risks and downtime associated with unplanned failure.
Site communicated that additional greasing was completed and the temperature of the bearing was monitored until the component was replaced. This site has also now created a reliability document to educate their Trades and Maintenance personnel on the importance of correct storage and greasing of such components.
