Replacing a seal C114

[Starcat]

Waukesha Setup

Hi star,

This is indeed good advice. Can you further explain the 9/16" vs 1/2" statement on the collar? Those are 3/16" hex and we typically suggest 15 ft-lbs although more is okay. Even the pros can strip that hex sometimes. It's good to use a hex socket, not just a wrench, and make sure it's in all the way by wiggling it.

If you have the C series manual from SPX, page 18 shows adjustment of the drive collar distance from the impeller end of the shaft adapter. There is a table and a pictorial drawing shown for Drive Collar adjustment for " D " seal type. The book calls for 9/16" which is often not quite enough tension on the mechanical seal for the duty encountered.
Yes this is unorthodox and " not by the book " but we are talking real world stuff. Same thing with the notion that very many people are going to break out a torque wrench to lockdown those undersized SS setscrews on the drive collar. If they were a bit larger there would likely never be an issue with having them gore out.
The lauter pump is the toughest case because it can easily get husk forced between the seal and the backplate without speed control and operator savvy.

[TGTimm]

Thanks again, folks. I've added the SPX manual to my collection. Hopefully, I'll have forgotten this procedure by the next time I have to replace a C114 seal!

I used the advice from the CPE tutorial to set the drive collar--after using feeler gauge to set the shaft. I don't have a measuring device that will fit into the area to measure the drive collar clearance, but it looks like it's about the 1/2" you recommend.