Melroe M444 hydraulic pump misalingment problem

[GlennsM444]

I'm having a problem with hydraulic pump misalingment. I repowered my M444 with a Vanguard 18HP. I attached the appropriate stump shaft adapter to the flywheel side (1 inch standard keyway) and bought Lovejoy couplings for each shaft side (one for the stump shaft and another 3/4 inch 11 splines for the hydraulic pump side.) I eyeballed the alingment and everything seemed to be working fine. The pump started to leak from the shaft seal after about 70 hours. I don't know if this is from misalingment or just that the pump is old (I was hammering on the machine pretty heavily that day.) Anyway, I bought a new pump from LoaderParts Source and since have chewed through one rubber star. My question: Can anyone recommend a way to get the alingment more accurate? Are there available tools for this kind of thing? Or, is there a type of coupling that will give me some more wiggle room?

 

[gearbox]

The original mor flex might take up more misalignment but they are spendy I think around $200 . Im doing a 500 with a water cooled 27 HP Vanguard and there is no room for any alignment tools I know of . you may try to put a hose clamp around both halfs of the Lovejoy then snug up the pump and take the hose clamp off . Are you useing a 95 lovejoy ? If you are useing smaller it is too small for 3600 and 18 HP .Hope this helps Gearbox

 

[GlennsM444]

The original mor flex might take up more misalignment but they are spendy I think around $200 . Im doing a 500 with a water cooled 27 HP Vanguard and there is no room for any alignment tools I know of . you may try to put a hose clamp around both halfs of the Lovejoy then snug up the pump and take the hose clamp off . Are you useing a 95 lovejoy ? If you are useing smaller it is too small for 3600 and 18 HP .Hope this helps Gearbox

I ended up tearing through that Lovejoy coupler within 70 hours. Ate through 3 stars and eventually sheared the jaws. I took your advice and picked up a Moreflex coupler. FOR THOSE INTERESTED: Center piece Moreflex #352; Flange for engine side from TracParts.com A-L36-19 (this hooks the 352 to a 1 inch shaft with a .25 keyway.) I don't have a part number for the pump side flange but any Moreflex flange with holes 2 1/4 inches from center will hook to a 352 coupler. The shaft on the original melroe pump is 3/4 splined with 11 splines. Emerson industrial offers Moreflex couplers and flanges for all applications. They have online chat and will hook you up with a retailer. Keep the Melroes running for eternity!