Basics of a Busch R5 Oil Change
Today, we share our expertise in a Busch R5 oil change. This article is a Busch R5 Series Oil Change Walkthrough. In this article, we will be showing the oil change on a PRS Mini Series Rollstock machine. The pump we are changing the oil on is a Busch R5 RA 0040 F oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pump.
Before we get started
Before we get knee-deep in this job, please make sure to gather the tools you need from the list below as well as make sure you have enough time to finish the job. Typically these rollstock thermoformers are used very heavily and most facilities can not afford too much downtime. This job is very simple and strongly urge training up a few people in your facility to tend to this matter as needed. So let’s get started with what you will need to get the job done.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Time Required: 15-30 minutes
Tools Required: Busch OEM oil or JVR VacOil, Busch oil filter, filter wrench/pliers, funnel, and chamber vacuum pouch/drain pan,
The following instructions are applicable for any R5 series of Busch vacuum pumps.
Tools Needed
Essential tools for the job include a filter wrench and a funnel. These two tools alone will work in almost any application. If you do not have a filter wrench, you can use pliers instead. Also, have something to catch the oil during the draining process. JVR suggests using a chamber vacuum pouch for easy drain and clean up after the job is completed. If you do not have chamber vacuum pouches at your disposal, a simple drain pan will work just fine. Now you will need the heartbeat of the operation: vacuum pump oil. You can use Busch OEM oil or JVR’s line of VacOil during this process.
Step 1) Draining the Oil
Every Busch vacuum pump is going to have a drain plug. It’s typically located on the fan side of the module. The lower plug is always going to be the drain. The upper plug will be the fill, and in the middle, you have a sight glass. This will tell you at what point you need to fill your oil.
Take your pair of pliers and loosen up the drain plug. Before you loosen the plug completely, get something to catch the oil. Depending on the location of the pump and oil drain, traditional drain pans may not provide the best oil-catching configuration. Chamber pouches work great in many applications because they’re flexible but thick enough that you won’t have leaks.
Push or scrunch the bag partially under the vacuum pump to completely catch oil from the drain. Once your bag is in place, spin the plug out with your fingers. Make sure you don’t let the plug drop into the chamber pouch. After the oil starts flowing, continue to hold the pouch or pan in place as the oil drains.
Once the oil slows to a trickle and is no longer draining, you can rethread the drain plug and hand tighten it for now so you can move the oil-full bag or pan. Please note: every drain plug has an O-ring around it. Make sure the O-ring is in the proper groove of the drain plug before reinsertion.
If you’re using a chamber vacuum pouch to catch the oil, give it a good twist, and even knot the bag if you have enough room. Otherwise, you can use a few zip ties to tighten the bag closed. Now you can dispose of the oil in a responsible manner. Grab your pliers again and finish tightening the oil drain plug.
Go ahead and tighten up the oil drain plug with your pliers. Do not overtighten the drain plug because it is made of plastic. About 1/8 of a turn should be relatively sufficient after the plug was hand-tightened.
Step 2) Replacing the Oil Filter
To change the oil filter, you’ll want to use a filter wrench. If one is not available, you can use a pair of pliers. If neither of these tools is available, you can use a flathead screwdriver, although this is for desperate situations. Pound the screwdriver through the center side of the filter. Then you can turn the filter using the screwdriver.
Once the oil filter is partially loose, grab a chamber pouch or pan. It can be the same one used previously if you have enough room. Cup the bag underneath the filter and under the pump a little. When you begin loosening the last few threads, you’ll see the oil draining out. Make sure you hold the bag tight in place, so it doesn’t make a mess.
At this point, if you have a helper, they can hand you the new oil filter. If you’re working on your own, ensure the new oil filter is nearby before you start the process. While still holding the oil drain pouch in place, grab a small amount of oil on your finger and rub it around the gasket of the new oil filter. This allows the new oil filter to go on smoothly to get the proper torque. Now you can thread on the new oil filter. Tighten the filter just enough for the oil to stop dripping. Pull the drain pouch away and responsibly dispose of the oil as we mentioned previously.
After you dry off your hands of oil residue, wipe off the filter and once the gasket touches, give it about a three-quarter turn as tight as you can by hand. Don’t use a filter wrench or pliers to tighten it because that will make it more difficult to remove next time.
If you’re not sure if the oil filter is on tight enough, run your pump for an hour or so. Then inspect underneath the filter. If you see an oil drip, you’ll need to tighten up the filter a little bit.
Busch R5 Oil Change: How To Select The Appropriate Vacuum Pump Oil
For a vacuum pump that’s 2 HP or above, we recommend using the #46 VacOil. For pumps smaller than 2 HP, we recommend using the #22 VacOil. Additionally, we have a line of synthetic oils perfect for use in an extreme duty or cold room where your machine is running for extended periods of time.
Step 3) Refilling the Oil
Return to where we previously drained the oil. Remove the fill plug with your pliers and insert a funnel. Grab your favorite vacuum pump oil. For our oil change on the Busch R5 Series RA 0040 F pump, we are using a #46 JVR VacOil. Grab your funnel and place it in the fill of the pump. Fill the pump with oil until the level reaches three-quarters full in the sight glass, or until there’s only a slight bubble at the top. On many Busch pumps you’ll notice maximum and minimum fill lines. When you go to run the pump, the oil level is going to decrease slightly because the oil fills up the filter and circulates through the system.
After the filling is complete, grab your fill plug. First, make sure that your fill plug has the o-ring still in place. Second, reinsert the fill plug and hand tighten. Once hand-tightened, grab your pliers to give the fill plug a final 1/8 of a turn to snug it down.
Now you know how to replace the oil on a Busch vacuum pump! We hope this article has been extremely informative. Feel free to subscribe to our VacNews articles above for more content like this. If you like our articles, please check out our entire library of VacNews articles below. Lastly, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office. JVR Industries is open from 8:30 am – 5 pm EST to help with all your vacuum packaging needs.
