I-Storage-A

Storage in End User Products

Customer Assistance

John Crane
Seal Shelf Life
and Storage
Guidelines for
Contacting Seals

1. When new or refurbished seals are stored in the customers

equipment the seal cavity must be drained of all water to
prevent damage due to freezing.

For questions regarding seal shelf life or assistance in

determining the suitability for use of seals exceeding
shelf life requirements, contact your John Crane sales
representative or any one of the thirty nine service
centers throughout the United States.

2. Any foreign matter should be removed after delivery of

the equipment to the site. The open area between the
gland plate and sleeve should be masked to exclude
dirt after cleaning.
3. The suction and discharge flanges should be covered
to exclude airborne debris.
4. All open ports in the Gland Plate and seal chamber
must be plugged with metal plugs.

General
This document is intended to be used as a general guideline for
the storage and protection of John Crane mechanical seals. In
cases where individual mechanical seal products have storage
and preservation requirements specific to that seal, those
requirements supersede this document.
This document does not cover non-contacting gas compressor
seals. For gas compressor seals see John Crane technical specification GS-1-0305 or contact the Type 28 gas seal group.

5. Seals that are used in hydrocarbon based services can

be fogged and filled approximately one quarter with VPI oil.
Alternately the seals can be preserved using an oil, or other
suitable liquid, mist system.
6. The shaft should be marked and rotated several revolutions
per week. The shaft should come to rest no less than
ninety degrees (90) from the previous position.
7. If steps 5 & 6 are properly performed, the seal should be
suitable for service without disassembly. Otherwise, seals
stored over two years in the customers equipment should
be disassembled and examined prior to use.

Shelf Storage

Seal Examination

John Crane mechanical seals are packaged in a manner

which protects them from airborne particles as well as normal
handling during transportation. The packaging should be
maintained when the seals are warehoused waiting for use.
If the packaging is removed for the purposes of inspection,
it should be replaced prior to storage, in order to minimize
factors such as exposure to ultraviolet light, which may
cause elastomers (rubber) to degrade.

Seals which exceed the recommended shelf life should be

disassembled and an examination of the sealing faces
and the elastomer component should be conducted.
Mechanical seal designs can be intricate and the proper
assembly is crucial to the effective functioning of the seal.
For this reason, we recommend the disassembly and
examination of seals exceeding shelf life be conducted
by trained John Crane personnel.

Seals should be stored in a location which has a stable

temperature and humidity. Severe changes in the storage
location environment may cause seals to degrade.
John Crane mechanical seals are primarily made of materials
which do not have a restricted shelf life. The exception to
this is the elastomer components. While actual shelf life of
elastomers in some cases extends to ten years, a seal which
has been stored for over one year should be examined to
assure that: the elastomers are suitable for use, and that
the sealing faces have retained the flatness and finish
characteristics required for the proper functioning of the
seals. Cartridge seals can be air tested prior to installation
to verify seal integrity.

Asia Pacific
Singapore

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Slough, UK

Latin America
So Paulo, Brazil

North America
Morton Grove, Illinois USA

Tel: 65-861-1288
Fax: 65-862-4117

Tel: 44-1753-224000
Fax: 44-1753-224224

Tel: 55-11-3049-9979
Fax: 55-11-3849-4511

1-800-SEALING
Tel: 1-847-967-2400
Fax: 1-847-967-3915

For your nearest John Crane facility, please contact one of the locations above.
If the products featured will be used in a potentially dangerous and/or hazardous process, your John Crane representative should be consulted prior to their selection and use.
In the interest of continuous development, John Crane Companies reserve the right to alter designs and specifications without prior notice. It is dangerous to smoke while handling
products made from PTFE. Old and new PTFE products must not be incinerated.
2001 John Crane Print 10/98

www.johncrane.com

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