Industrial Swivel Joint Maintenance Made Easy: The 857 Riser Swivel
When the swivel supporting a counterbalance loading arm goes down, tempers rise, delivery schedules go out the window, and throughput tanks. When it comes to industrial swivel joint maintenance, you could be looking at tens of thousands of dollars in lost time, plus added costs for specialty cranes and services, all to get you up and running in a day – a few days if you need to wait for parts and people.
Unless you have an OILCO 857 riser swivel in place, that is. The 857 was originally created for a terminal facility client tired of how complicated counterweight hose loader operations were. They wanted a long-lasting, heavy-duty swivel joint that could both support the moment load of longer reach on hose assemblies, and provide a simple maintenance solution at the critical riser point. One whose seals could easily be replaced without having to bring in a crane, disassemble the arm, and call in a team of technicians. One that wouldn’t be down for days – and possibly affect the uptime of the arms around it.
“That you can replace the seals of the 857 without unbolting it is huge,” says Bill Armstrong of Decker Petroleum Equipment based in Oregon. Decker specializes in truck load rack equipment and solutions for transloading or off-loading tank trucks and rail cars.
Armstrong has worked extensively with terminals along the west coast. “The 857 is a great investment for terminals that have seen staffing cuts and are navigating complicated regulations. OILCO’s 857 is almost a ‘set it and forget it’ type of swivel, meaning terminal operators can focus on other things than maintenance.”
OILCO’s 857 Riser Swivel: Solution History
The first OILCO’s Model 857 riser swivel went into service in the 1960s, engineered and manufactured to support the multitude of counterweighted hose loaders outfitting west coast terminals throughout California.
Due to the high moment loads on larger loading assemblies, the 857 incorporated tapered roller bearings in the mechanical chamber. This allowed for the intense bending moment at the riser and resolved all associated fatiguing issues at the base.
Due to the high unit weight of counterweighted systems, removing them from service was traditionally a lengthy disassembly operation that could involve a maintenance team, crane, forklift, or reach lifts — and a lot of time.
OILCO’s 857 was constructed with a shielded removable seal. The dual o-ring compartment was enclosed with an extra-heavy wall locking collar, successfully allowing for the various flow rates required by customers. With only standard hand tools, the main pressure seals can be removed and new o-rings installed in a matter of minutes. Maintenance in minutes by one technician, no disassembly required.
Field-Serviceable vs. Traditional Swivel Joints: Maintenance Comparison
Consider OILCO’s 857 Riser Swivel if you’re a terminal operator facing:
#1 – High moment load and fatigue failure
Long, heavy loading arms twist and bend with enormous force at the connection point. Loading arms weigh in at hundreds of pounds— high hundreds. The counterweights used to balance the arms add even more complexity. All of this motion converges at the base swivel joint, causing:
- Regular bearing failure quickly
- Fatigue at the riser base
OILCO’s 857 battles high moment load and fatigue failure with:
- Combined loading: both radial and axial forces simultaneously
- Heavy wall locking collar protects the dual O-ring compartment
- Dual O-ring system provides superior leak protection
- Zero fatigue failures when properly maintained
- A design that carries heavier moment load without additional bracing
When operated and maintained within design parameters, service life can exceed 30 years. We still get requests for seal replacement kits for first-gen units – many of which have been in service for 50 years.
#2: Maintenance and repair nightmares
High-cycle operations are brutal on equipment. Loading arms cycle hundreds of times per day, functioning across weather extremes and with users who aren’t always gentle with equipment. Terminal crews already work overdrive on regular maintenance to keep things running smoothly. When a swivel needs maintenance or a seal needs replacing – especially unexpectedly – it hurts the bottom line.
Traditional swivel joint loading arm maintenance often requires full disassembly, hitting both your time and cost buckets:
Time:
- Loading arm out of service for hours or days
- Multiple technicians pulled from other jobs
- Disruption to adjacent loading positions, possibly
Cost:
- Lost revenue from downtime
- Specialized equipment including crane and rigging
- Additional staff or specialized staff
- Risk of damage or injury during dis/reassembly
With OILCO’s 857 riser swivel, maintenance happens:
- In-field: Within the swivel’s footprint
- Using standard hand tools – no special equipment, no cranes
- With one technician – from your regular team
- In minutes, not hours – O-ring replacement in under 30 mins
- No disassembly required – loading arm stays in place
An Investment That Goes the Distance
A larger up-front investment, when you factor in hidden values of a field-serviceable swivel joint
the 857-F offers a lower total cost of ownership.
- No additional bracing costs
- Far less downtime for seal repairs and maintenance
- No disassembly or associated costs
- No potential damage to other units
- Decades longer joint life expectancy
857 Riser Swivel Industry Applications
Originally designed to simplify and strengthen counterweighted loading arms, the ease of maintenance and durability of the 857 make it of interest across areas including:
- High flow loading systems requiring robust swivel performance
- Multi-product terminals with diverse fluid compatibility requirements
- Marine terminals with demanding environmental conditions
- Critical operations where downtime costs are significant
Industrial Swivel Joint Maintenance Without a Crane: Everyone Wins
Bottom line: you need equipment that works when it’s supposed to, gets fixed fast when it doesn’t, and doesn’t eat through your budget with hidden time and energy costs. OILCO’s 857 has you covered. Reliable service life. Field serviceable. No disassembly required. And when you DO need seal kits in a pinch (because the 857 can be so reliable you might be tempted to ‘set it and forget it’), we aim for 24-hour shipping of seal kits anywhere in the U.S.
OILCO: Reliability at Every Turn
Proudly designed and manufactured in the USA since 1935, OILCO Liquid Handling Systems’ reliable products keep industries moving. From our unparalleled swivel joint line to our innovative loading arm assemblies, OILCO products are engineered to do more. Put our experience to work for your business.
