Unique gear case design allows for easy installation and removal of the intermediate gear cluster. This feature makes it possible to replace the bearings in the field reducing the amount of time a well is out of production for repairs.

Size 25 main gear casting being machined on a 40 HP CNC lathe.

 It takes good machinery and tooling to maintain the close tolerances required for press fit gears and bearing journals. This is another operation that is best performed in house to consistently maintain the highest quality standards.

Picture of a gear hob, cutting teeth on a No. 16 main gear

At JCPump we cut all of our own gears. As part of the process, we periodically install the gears in a gearbox to check for proper tooth profile and contact. Each gear is individually inspected for size after it is cut. Cutting gears is a critical process required to make a quality gearbox.

Size 40 main shaft  being machined on a CNC lathe.

Shafts are completely machined between centers to provide absolute concentricity between all surfaces. This is required to have smooth, quiet running gears and extended bearing life.

Using a computer controlled machining center to bore the high speed bearing journal on a size 40 gearbox.

Like the foundation of a building, a quality gearbox starts with the machining of the gear case. Machining the bearing journals is a critical step. The bore size, spacing, concentricity and parallelism must be maintained as well as alignment perpendicular to the face of the box. If you’re not performing this operation in house, then you’re not controlling the quality of the finished gear box.

Picture of technician using a gage  to set the bearing preload during assembly of a size 16 gear box.

After the box is assembled, the gear backlash and face contact is checked. Oil wipers are installed and adjusted.

After assembly, each gearbox is connected to a power source and rotated both directions for final inspection and tested for proper oiling of bearings.

Testing the gearbox for proper bearing lubrication

The Saddle bearings use two double-lip seals per side to provide extra protection from the environment and to prevent leakage of lubricant thus increasing bearing life. The ends of the saddle and the inside face of the bearing caps are machined bearing surfaces, providing for minimal end play, which can cause premature seal failure. The bottom mounting surface of the saddle bearings are also machined to provide for accurate mounting without adding unnecessary load to the saddle due to misalignment. A pressure relief fitting is used in the saddle bearing cap to prevent contamination of the lubrication system. 

The pitman arm and equalizer beam bearing assemblies are made using two standard tapered roller bearings per connection. The bearings are mounted in a self-aligning machined housing preventing any pre-loading of the bearings during assembly. The result is superior bearing life.

Unique motor mount design allows for easy access to mounting bolts. Threaded rod adjusting screws provide positive adjustment of the belt tension while maintaining motor alignment. Gas engine mounts are available for all sizes.

The pulleys are machined by JCPump to specifically fit our pumping units. The split hub is casted into the pulley eliminating the need for bushings that can work loose during operation. This design also prevents pulley wobble that is inherent with the bushing designs. A brake drum is machined into the rim of the pulley on sizes 16 thru 40.

Improved belt guard design allows easy removal and replacement without removing any fasteners. Simply loosen two mounting bolts and lift the guard from the pumping unit for removal.