**Published by:** Maintenance Tips Daily
**Last week, a technician asked:**
*”How do I adjust a non-cartridge mechanical seal when it’s leaking?”*
Here’s the answer — **don’t rush to take it apart**. Follow these three simple steps while the pump is still assembled. It saves time and effort.
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### Step 1 – Push the Seal Evenly
Loosen the set screw on the stationary ring.
Use two iron bars to push the seal from opposite sides until the rotating ring and stationary ring touch.
Then tighten the fixing screws evenly, moving from corner to corner.
**This alone fixes 70% of leaks** caused by a stuck spring.
### Step 2 – Check the Flushing Fluid
Make sure the flushing fluid flows freely.
It carries away heat caused by friction.
### Step 3 – Keep Inlet Pressure Stable
Stable inlet pressure prevents cavitation (running dry or forming bubbles).
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### Still leaking after pushing?
That means either:
– The seal faces are worn out, or
– The O-ring has aged.
**Do not keep pushing again.**
Take the pump apart and pull out the seal. Check:
– Is the O-ring flattened or hard?
– Does the stationary ring’s mirror surface have scratches or deep grooves?
### If you see any of these problems – act immediately.
Remove the whole mechanical seal and replace it with a brand new one.
(Remember: tighten the cover screws evenly and diagonally.)
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### Key Reminder
For a non-cartridge mechanical seal:
**Push once. If it still leaks, replace it without hesitation.**
The repair time you save is worth far more than the cost of a new seal.
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### Quick Rhyme for the Job
> *First tighten the rotating ring and check the conditions.*
> *Push once – if it leaks, swap out the whole assembly.*
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**Follow for more maintenance tips. No more mistakes on the job.**
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Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for Twitter or a more formal version for a repair manual.
