EXPLANATION
These test methods cover two procedures for making a preliminary evaluation of the load-carrying properties of fluid lubricants by means of the Falex Pin and Vee Block test machines. Evaluations by both test methods differentiate between fluids having low, medium, and high levels of extreme-pressure properties. The user should establish any correlation between results by either method and service performance.
Relative ratings by both test methods were in good agreement with four ball weld-point relative ratings obtained in Test Method ASTM D2783.
TEST SUMMARY
Both test methods consist of running a rotating steel journal at 290 +/- 10 r/min against two stationary V-blocks immersed in the lubricant sample. Load is applied to the V-blocks by a ratchet mechanism. In Test Method A (that is, Falex Run-up test) increasing load is applied continuously. In Test Method B (that is, Falex one-min step test) load is applied in 250 lbf increments with load maintained constant for 1 min at each load increment. In both these methods the load-fail value obtained is the criteria for level of load-carrying properties. Both methods require calibration of the load gage and reporting of test results as true (corrected) loads rather than actual gage loads.
TEST PRECISION
The procedure in these test methods has no bias.