Tech Tip: Troubleshooting Vacuum

The effects of a vacuum leak can be subtle. The Mepaco equipment may appear to be holding a vacuum, yet a small leak, especially in the feed pump, will affect the performance of the machine.

Look for these symptoms:

• Air bubbles in finished product
• Reduced product output rate
• Loss of vacuum in deaeration chamber

General Troubleshooting:

• Make sure top cover gasket is seated firmly and the lid is coming in contact with the gasket evenly.
• Make sure to use the original thickness gasket. Each machine is engineered for a specific lid gasket. Use of a thicker or thinner gasket can cause  uneven sealing.
• Welding on any portion of the lid, hinges or sidewall of the unit can cause warping and create an uneven lid seal.
• Ensure that valves are holding vacuum.
• Ensure that vacuum hose fittings are tightly seated in their hoses.
• Do not use heat on fittings. Use of heat to expand the vacuum hose to remove and install fittings will eventually lead to a poor fit between the vacuum hose and vacuum fittings.
• Make sure seal is in good condition and replace if worn. Look for excessive wear between the shaft and shaft seal. If the shaft is excessively worn, consult Mepaco Field Services for options.
• Check to see if the fitting leaks and fix with a compound if necessary.
• View ports not correctly closed and replace or tighten.
• Check to see if cylinders are out of adjustment.
• Make sure the feed pump is correctly mounted.

Mepaco equipment available with vacuum are Vacuum Stuffers, Thermablend Cookers and Mixer Blenders. If the cause cannot be determined, please call Field Services at 920-356-7334 for further assistance.