Make sure that the stuffing box has been properly packed (see sub-section) and above all that the gland has not been tightened too firmly as, otherwise, damage will occur to the packing and the shaft sleeve. See to it that it is not tightened unevenly and does not rub on the shaft. The shaft must run freely, it must be possible to run it by hand with ease.

The direction of rotation must correspond to the direction arrow on the volute casing. If the direction cannot be checked whilst the machine is disconnected, the motor may be started for a moment only.

On pumps equipped with mechanical seals this check may be carried out only with the machine disconnected.

Wrong direction of rotation will soon damage to the pump.

Prior to priming the pump, open the piping supplying the external sealing liquid, the cooling water for the shaft seal and if required, the cooling water for the oil bath. Make sure that the water flows.

When priming the pump, please note:

Pump, suction or feed line must in all cases be filled and properly vented. It is recommended to slowly rotate the pump shaft by hand during the priming procedure. For suction lift duty, the pump can be primed

If suction head conditions exist, the isolating valve in the feed line may be opened in order to fill the pump. If a connecting pipe exists between the equalizing pipe and pump delivery branch, the valve in the connecting pipe must be open whilst the pump is primed. During pump operation this valve remains closed.

The isolating valve in the feed line (and, if there is any, the valve in the vacuum equalizing pipe) should be open. The regulating valve in the delivery line, however, should be closed or in the case of automatic operation, the full backpressure should be on the non-return valve.

Make sure that there is a flow in the pipes supplying the external sealing liquid, the cooling water for the shaft seal and, if required, the cooling water for the oil bath. Do not switch on motor until then.

If the delivery pressure does not be rise continuously as speed increases, stop the set and prime once more carefully.

Once the pump has run up to working speed, open the regulating valve in the delivery line slowly until the required service data are reached.

Prolonged operating against closed regulating valve in the delivery line may lead to destruction of the internal pump parts and must therefore be avoided.

An alteration of the service data, which might become necessary, may be effected only with the aid of a regulating valve in the delivery line.

Particular care should be taken that the driver does not get overloaded if the weight of the liquid handled is greater than that originally assumed, that the available suction head is still sufficient in case of larger flow rates or, alternatively, that the suction lift to be overcome by the pump is not too high, as otherwise damage due to cavitation will occur.

When staring up automatically operated plants, all isolating valves, hence the delivery gate valve too, must be kept open.