Waukesha Maintenance
The factory recommended oil change interval on the Waukesha Universal 130 pump head gearbox is 500 to 750 hours, or whenever the clear sight glass makes the gearbox oil look like milk. That means water contamination. Sometimes it's condensation inside the gearbox over time, or a very meticulous intern running a pressure washer and trying to get even the input shaft seals and filler plug clean. No matter the cause, time or color, we recommend about 6 ounces (as verified at the sight glass plug on the right side, facing the front of the pump) of this very specific oil: Petrochem Food Grade Synthetic Gear Oil, ISO 460. This 1 gallon jug is the cheaper way to buy it by the ounce, and you will have it on hand for all of your Waukesha-type Carlsen pumps.
While you're at it, it's good to look for excessive wear on the rubber coupling (it shows up as a pile of rubber dust under the coupling cover) and to check the oil level in the motor gearbox.
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O-ring replacement time is the best time to clean thoroughly and reassemble with a smooth coat of food-grade grease on the shaft O-rings, to make assembly and disassembly easier later on.
Also look for signs of oil leaks at the gearbox, or excessive wear at the rubber coupling. That shows up as a pile of rubber dust under the coupling cover.
Care and Feeding of a Waukesha
General Use
Prepare your pump for the job by sanitizing and rinsing it with the solution of your choice. Keep the O-rings in good shape to prevent leaks. Annual maintenance should include complete pump head cleaning and reassembly with new O-rings.
REMEMBER: NO D.E. D.E. is the devil. Waukeshas HATE it.
"Our pumps suck." Not my words, and I'm not sure who said it first. In most cases your Waukesha will prime itself, which makes it easier to start most jobs, from pumping out a fermentor to topping barrels.
Rinse your pump after every use. After harvest, plan to tear down the pump head (30 to 40 minutes) and look for trapped solids before it sits for long. That's also a good idea any time the pump has moved anything with high solids.
Maintenance and Upkeep
- Two squirts of regular (non-food-grade) grease in the gearbox fittings each year
- Keep a spare set of O-rings on hand
- O-rings may wear out (you'll see a drip) as often as twice a year, or every two years
- The Waukesha wrench in the gray control box fits the nuts that hold the lobes to the shafts
Waukesha Service Questions
How do I change the O-rings on a Waukesha pump?
Watch the video at the top of this page. Tear down the pump head, clean everything thoroughly, and reassemble with a smooth coat of food-grade grease on the shaft O-rings, which makes the next teardown easier. The Waukesha wrench in the gray control box fits the nuts that hold the lobes to the shafts.
How often should I change Waukesha O-rings?
When you see a drip. That can be as often as twice a year or as seldom as every two years, depending on use. Plan on new O-rings at every annual pump head cleaning, and keep a spare set on hand.
What oil does a Waukesha 130 gearbox need?
About 6 ounces, checked at the sight glass plug on the right side when you face the front of the pump, of Petrochem Food Grade Synthetic Gear Oil, ISO 460. A 1 gallon jug covers all of your Waukesha-type Carlsen pumps for a long time.
How often should I change the oil in my Waukesha?
Every 500 to 750 hours, the factory recommended interval for the Waukesha Universal 130 pump head gearbox, or sooner if the oil in the sight glass looks like milk.
Why does my Waukesha gearbox oil look milky?
Water got in. It can be condensation inside the gearbox over time, or a pressure washer aimed at the input shaft seals and filler plug. Either way, change the oil.
Where do I grease a Waukesha pump?
Give the gearbox grease fittings two squirts of regular (non-food-grade) grease each year. Food-grade grease is for the shaft O-rings in the pump head.
Can I pump D.E. with a Waukesha?
No. D.E. is the devil, and Waukeshas hate it.
Where do I get Waukesha O-rings and parts?
Through Joe or Nikki. Email us through the site with your pump model and what you need. Need a hand with the work itself? See crush equipment service.