Diagnostic Reference Chart
(Electrical Conditions Noted)
Symptom of High Vibration Cause
subsynchronous a. rubs caused by seals and bearings
components of running
speed b. oil whirl
c. oil whip
d. resonance caused by:
1) nonlinear system (very low damping rate)
2) rubs
3) antifriction bearings
at running speed a. unbalanced rotor or coupling
b. effect of bent or bowed shaft
c. unbalance due to hot spots caused by shorted
laminations, uneven heat distribution due to bad
stacking
d. resonance close to running speed
e. resonant frequency reduced close to running
speed due to negative spring effect of magnetic
field (especially vertical motors)
f. spring hardening or softening
g. bearing-to-bearing misalignment
h. rubs (e.g. component rubbing shaft)
i. eccentric journals
j. damaged sleeve/journal bearing
k. damaged antifriction bear, mech.
Test or Check Correction
a. seen as whole fractions (1/2, 1/3) on real time a relieve rub
analyzer
b. typically 40% to 45% of running speed b. re-design bearing
c. a whirl exciting a resonance c. re-design bearing
1) excited by oil whirl 1) remove oil whirl (b. above)
2) peak fall rapidly during shutdown/phase changes 2) relieve rub
3) consult bearing charts to assess bearing damage 3) replace bearing
a. varies with square of speed a. balance rotor or coupling
b. can vary with square of speed and preload: bow b. straighten shaft if possible and balance, run
less than unbalance if vibration decreases abruptly out bow first if not balance; if bow or bend
before first critical speed; bow greater than too great, machine or replace rotor.
unbalance if vibration decreases after first critical
speed.
c. balance changes and vibration increases check: c. machine rotor and repeat lock rotor test;
heat by lock rotor test; use infrared camera to restack or replace rotor
locate hot spot; shorted laminations - some show
1x running speed with 2x side bands
d. exponent of shutdown vibration amplitude greater d. change stiffness of pedestals or bearing
than 2 -- usually 6 or >; phase should also change supports to move resonance away from
by 90 at peak resonance. running speed.
e. at shutdown negative spring effect of magnetic e. problem on a vertical motor tested alone will
field decreases; resonance increases; shutdown probably disappear when motor is coupled
resembles an electrical problem due to extra mass of pump and process.
f. rapid drop in vibration amplitude on shutdown; f. see E above
check vibration amplitude on shutdown; check
vibration at a lower voltage/speed
g. vibration sometimes at 1x but often at 2x or 3x g. align bearings
running speed and 2x line frequency
h. phase angles change h. remove rub
i. running speed component plus 2x slip frequency i. machine round
side bands; seen as runout on oscilloscope with
eddy current probes
j. increased in radial and axial vibration; change in j. change bearings
gap voltage with eddy current probes
k. can produce running speed vibration; usually k. change bearings
produces frequencies other than running speed,
depending on degree of damage and bearing type
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 Diagnostic Reference Chart
(Electrical Conditions Noted)
Symptom of High Vibration Cause
l. electrical discharge caused by grounding
problems can damage bearings in a very short
time
m. loose bearing in housing
n. electrical: broken or cracked rotor bars, cracked
or broken shorting ring; bad joining of bars to
shorting ring
o. loose rotor bars
p. eccentric rotor
1) rotor not centralized in stator
2) rotor runout
3) rotor bow, including bow due to local heating
from shorted lamination, broken or cracked bars
poor rotor/shaft contact.
q. magnetic effects (motor not running on magnetic centeq.
1) bearing axial offset
2) motor not level
3) incorrect coupling space
4) force of fan overcoming magnetic forces
5) cocked bearing or preload misalignment
r. single phasing: one phase out at breaker;
broken coil or connector at motor
s. coupling lockup-coupled machines
Test or Check
l. increase in running speed vibration and possibly
higher frequencies
m. data unstable, produce 1/2 or 2x components of
running speed; also affects 1x component
n. large 1x component typically beats with slip
frequency side bands but disappears on shutdown;
use torioidal coil on power cable to motor and chart
recorder to record waveform of starting current;
apply low voltage and current into 2 phases, rotate
rotor by hand, observe any irregular current
deflections; test bars ultrasonically; 1x component
of running speed with 2x slip frequency side bands
o. amplitude of 1x component of running speed can
change
p.
1) air gap between rotor and stator more than 2x
slip frequency on 1x & 2x components of running
speed; large 1x component of running speed.
2) check runout with dial indicators in 'v' block
3) if bowed by localized heating, vibration at 1x
running speed should increase until rotor is hot;
1x running speed will be at with 2x side bands; use
lock rotor test: pass low voltage through stator
& use infrared camera to locate hot spot on rotor
1) high axial vibration and possibly rubs
2) check motor with level
3) check coupling spacer distance
4) test motor without fan if motor is uncoupled or
cannot be run uncoupled
5) vibration higher in one direction
r. difficult to reach speed; spectrum shows compo-
nents of 1x running speed as well as subharmonics,
harmonics & resonances; noisy during start-up
s. high radial unbalance at shutdown; typically higher
axial vibration; vibration changes with load because
lockup breaks loose; inspect coupling to unlock and
observe changes in phase and vibration
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Correction
l. change bearing and remove ground problem
m. shim between bearing and housing or machine
bearing housing.
n replace bar; remake joints between bars and
shorting ring; replace rotor if needed
o. remake joint with shorting end ring or replace
bar
p.
1) centralize rotor; make air gap between rotor
and stator even
2) machine rotor to eliminate runout
3) machine small bows; destack and straighten
shaft or replace rotor; for shorted laminations
machine out hot spot and retest, balance or
replace rotor.
q.
1) set bearings for rotor to be on magnetic center
2) level rotor
3) reset axial alignment
4) test motor coupled
5) relieve preload; align bearings or bearing
housing
r. remake phase connection
s. change coupling, if required; check lubrication
system; if greased-packed, check types of
grease used.
 Diagnostic Reference Chart
(Electrical Conditions Noted)
Symptom of High Vibration Cause Test or Check Correction

2x running speed a. bearing looseness a. typically see as 2x component of running speed; a. shim between bearing and bearing housing
can also be 1/2x of 1x component
b. misalignment c. c.
1) cocked bearings 1) 2x and 1x components of running speed 1) align
2) varying air gap 2) 2x line frequency 2) align
c. eccentric rotor d. d.
1) rotor runout 1) 2x component of running speed with 2x slip 1) machine rotor or journals
frequency side bands
2) rotor bow 2) as 1 plus 1x component of running speed 2) straighten bow or machine
3) rotor bow due to local heating (shorted lami- 3) as 2; use lock test and infrared camera to locate 3) for shorted lamination machine out hot spots,
nations, broken rotor bars) hot spot retest, and balance, replace rotor
d. eccentric or oval journals e. 1x and 2x components of running speed with 2x e. machine round
slip frequency side bands; also 2x slip frequency
e. magnetic effects b. 2x component of running speed with 2x slip b. center rotor in stator; machine iron of rotor to
1) eccentric air gap frequency side bands be symmetrical with squirrel cage; change rotor
2) eccentric squirrel cage

2x line frequency a. bearing wear a. directional 120Hz vibration component a. change bearings
120 Hz b. eccentric stator, poor construction b. as in "a" b. line bore stator
c. loose lamination c. as in "a" c. check for loose lamination; restack or reinsulate
laminations
d. soft feet d. as in "a"; could lower resonance close to running d. shim feet and eliminate distortion - soft foot.
speed
e. warped base e. as in "d" e. machine base or feet
f. hot spots f. f.
1) shorted lamination 1) as in "a", check for hot spots by applying current 1) machine out hot spots or line bore stator
to stator with rotor removed; look for blueing
of stator and high temperature spots
2) uneven heat distribution due to bad stacking 2) as in "a"; possible cause is foreign material 2) restack or replace stator core
trapped between laminations

3) dirty stator 3) as in "a" 3) clean stator

g. shorted lamination turns g. 120 Hz component; unequal phase current g. rewind
h. coils h. h.
1) unequal size: different phase and resistance 1) as in "g" 1) rewind
2) bad coil joints: high resistance 2) as in "g"; plus heating at joints 2) remake joints
3) loose coils 3) 2x line frequency 3) check for loose wedges; dip in varnish and
bake

3x running speed typically associated with coupling problems -- high axial vibration at 3x running speed; 3x compo- check coupling gap - check alignment. Correct
coupling spacer too long or too short nents of running speed in radial direction as required.

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 Diagnostic Reference Chart
(Electrical Conditions Noted)
Symptom of High Vibration Cause Test or Check Correction

4x running speed usually associated with fan looseness 4x component in radial direction check for tightness of fan on hubs; straighten
bow on any fans

nx running speed a. mechanical looseness a. check for loose machine feet a. correct looseness
b. resonance of components (e.g. fan blades, end- b. impact test, shaker test b. change resonant frequency by changings
bells, bearing housing, rotor) excited by running stiffness, change flow conditions of cooling air;
speed, windage, rubs relieve rubs
c. slotting: similar number of slots in rotor and c. high frequency component equals number of lots c. not often seen on present-day rotors: manufac-
stator of rotor or stator turers assure large difference in slot numbers
for windage problems shim rotor to reduce slot
depth and decrease air resistance over rotor;
clean air discharge
d. electrical discharge on bearings possibly caused d. 1x component of running speed and high fre- d. change bearing; remove ground problem
by grounding problems quency

non-multiples of running speed antifriction bearing frequencies: ball retainer and determine frequency, type of bearing, bearing size, change bearings
race defects number of balls

Page 4 of 4