Overview
ISO 16589-3:2011 provides practical guidance for the storage, handling and installation of rotary shaft lip-type seals incorporating thermoplastic sealing elements (for example PTFE-based seals). Part 3 of ISO 16589 focuses on avoiding damage and hazards that shorten seal life or compromise equipment (bearings, housings, shafts) and complements dimensional and vocabulary parts of ISO 16589.
Key topics and requirements
- Storage practices
- Store seals per ISO 2230 and protect from dust, grit, insects, rodents, radioactive materials and harmful fumes.
- Keep seals in a dedicated, non-work area or closed containers to prevent mechanical damage and contamination.
- Avoid excessive stacking weight that could deform packaged seals.
- Packaging and unpacking
- Protect seals during transport and storage; do not remove from packaging until ready for installation.
- Unpack carefully to avoid cuts or nicks from knives or tools.
- Handling loose parts
- Do not hang seals on nails or thread them on wires; avoid contact between metal edges and sealing elements.
- Keep seal surfaces free of abrasives; use manufacturer-recommended cleaners and avoid abrasive or incompatible solvents.
- Installation
- Inspect seals before fitting; seals can often be installed unlubricated unless supplier specifies lubricant type/amount.
- Provide lead-in chamfers on shafts and housing bores as specified in ISO 16589-1.
- Use proper installation tools (bullet‑nosed or special tools) to avoid lip damage and ensure squareness with the bore or shoulder.
- When press-fitting components over the running area, reduce shaft diameter in the running area by 0.2 mm to avoid damaging the lip.
- For low-temperature assembly, restore lip flexibility by immersing seals 10–15 minutes in a compatible fluid not exceeding 50 °C.
- Replacement guidance
- Always fit new seals when replacing; shift the new seal lip to the fluid side so it does not engage the previous wear track.
Practical applications
- Ensures long service life of rotary seals used in low-pressure rotating applications: hydraulic/pneumatic machinery, pumps, motors, gearboxes and other OEM equipment where PTFE/thermoplastic lip seals are used.
- Useful for maintenance teams, assembly technicians, quality engineers and procurement to reduce leakage risk and costly secondary damage (bearings, shafts).
Who should use this standard
- Seal manufacturers and suppliers
- Maintenance and reliability engineers
- OEM design and assembly teams
- Procurement and quality assurance personnel involved in sealing component specification and handling
Related standards
