Ensure that you use the proper grade of oil and that the oil levels in the pump are correct. If you do not, pump
performance will be affected and the pump may be damaged.
Ensure that the oil-levels in the booster pump are correct before you operate the pump. Check the oil levels daily.
Always use the correct oil. Do not use oils other than those specified in this manual; if you do, you will invalidate the
warranty of the pump. Refer to Section 5.3 for maintenance frequencies. The use of substitute oils may make the
booster pump unsafe. If you use the booster pump on harsh and dirty applications, you will need to change the oil
more frequently.
3.9.1 Hydrocarbon oil
Before you operate the booster pump, ensure that the oil levels are correct (See Table 15). The oil levels should be
at the centre position of each sight-glass. Do not add oil while the booster pump is operating. Shut down the booster
pump and vent the pump to atmospheric pressure before you fill the pump with oil, or drain oil from the pump.
The booster pump has two oil reservoirs:
Bearing housing, drive end.
Bearing housing, gear end.
Refer to Figures 1 and 2 for the locations of the oil filler and drain ports.
With the booster pump shut down and at atmospheric pressure, add V-Lube H oil through both filler ports until each
oil-level sight-glass is half full. Do not overfill with oil, or allow the oil level to fall below the bottom of the sight-
glass. If you have overfilled a reservoir, oil may spill over into the body of the pump and contaminate the vacuum
system.
If you overfill the drive end reservoir, the booster pump may make a squealing noise (from the seal) during operation.
Lower the oil level slightly to eliminate the noise.
The bearings in the drive end reservoir are splash lubricated from an oil slinger that dips into the oil sump. The gears
are lubricated by partial immersion in the oil sump. Splashing from the gears lubricates the bearings.
Changing the oil in a booster pump from hydrocarbon to PFPE (Fomblin) could potentially cause a
safety hazard. Fomblin pumps are generally used in hazardous applications which may involve the
pumping of gases with high concentrations of oxygen. If hydrocarbon oil comes into contact with
gases with an oxygen concentration greater than 25%, an explosion can occur.
Therefore, if you want to convert a booster pump that has been used with hydrocarbon oil to use
PFPE (Fomblin) oil, you cannot simply flush the pump with new PFPE oil. You must return the pump
to a Edwards Service Centre for overhaul and cleaning by qualified Edwards service engineers. The
change in oil type requires a complete strip-down of the pump, and thorough cleaning of all parts,
so that all traces of hydrocarbon oil are removed.
Table 15 - Oil quantities
Bearing
housing
Oil capacity: ml (oz)
H (horizontal) pumps
V (vertical)
pumps
Drive end 750 (26) 1350 (46)
Gear end 1200 (41) 2800 (95)
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