WA & WS Series Worm Gearbox

WA & WS Series worm gearbox

The WA/WS series worm gearboxes combine the W family’s through-input shaft (allowing connection from either side) with a hollow output bore—the WA utilizes the WPA-class bore depth, while the WS features the deeper WPS-class bore depth. The series covers sizes 40–200, with bore diameters ranging from Ø14 to Ø70 mm and speed ratios from 10:1 to 60:1.

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Description

The WA & WS Series worm gearbox is the hollow-bore shaft-mount configuration within the W family, carrying the W series’ through-shaft input accessible from either housing side while replacing the solid output shaft with a precision hollow bore that seats directly onto the driven machine shaft. For Australian maintenance engineers maintaining legacy W-convention machinery across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide — and for machine designers specifying new W-convention hollow-bore drives — these two units are the standard solution across the size range from 40 to 200. The WA carries a WA-class bore depth optimised for smooth continuous loads; the WS provides the deeper WS-class bore engagement for shock, chain-loaded, and reversing applications where bore fretting is the primary maintenance concern. This guide covers the complete engineering picture: specification, selection between WA and WS, installation procedure, maintenance schedule, failure diagnosis, and identification of legacy units without nameplates. Manufactured to ISO 9001:2015, designed per AGMA 6034, supplied by Ever-Power Worm Gear Reducer Co., Ltd. (Australia), 27 Harley Crescent, Condell Park NSW 2200.


WA Series worm gearbox through-shaft hollow bore output shaft-mount — Ever-Power Australia
WS Series worm gearbox deep bore output W-family shaft-mount — Ever-Power AustraliaWA WS worm gearbox bore depth comparison WS deep bore vs WA standard

Technical Specifications — WA & WS Series Worm Gearbox

WS — Deep Bore (Heavy Duty)

WPS-class bore depth HL-WS. Through-shaft input both sides. Preferred for chain/belt loads, shock, reversals, cyclic fatigue.

WA — Standard Bore

WPA-class bore depth HL-WA. Through-shaft input both sides. Best for smooth continuous loads in W-convention machinery.

Size Ratio A (mm) B (mm) H (mm) HL-WS (mm) HL-WA (mm) Bore Ø (mm) Weight (kg)
40 10:1–60:1 148 122 135 60 45 Ø14 4
50 10:1–60:1 175 145 165 80 50 Ø17 7
60 10:1–60:1 195 165 195 93 60 Ø22 11
70 10:1–60:1 234 195 233 108 73 Ø28 15
80 10:1–60:1 264 210 268 123 83 Ø32 23
100 10:1–60:1 322 245 330 150 100 Ø38 38
120 10:1–60:1 385 285 395 180 120 Ø45 65
135 10:1–60:1 435 320 455 215 135 Ø55 84
155 10:1–60:1 494 387 493 235 135 Ø60 114
175 10:1–60:1 548 407 558 260 160 Ø65 150
200 10:1–60:1 688 480 620 290 175 Ø70 218

WA vs WS — Practical Selection Guide for Australian Maintenance Engineers

WA WS worm gearbox torque arm installation shaft-mount

The single most important selection decision is WA or WS — determined by your application’s duty classification:

Condition Specify WA Specify WS
Service factor SF ≤ 1.25 (smooth, steady load) SF ≥ 1.5 (shock, reversals)
Bore fretting history No history of fretting Previous WA failed — WS is the direct upgrade
Output load type Direct coupling, smooth start Chain/belt drive, DOL motor start
Required bore engagement Within HL-WA at your frame size Exceeds HL-WA, or long shaft available
Replacing existing unit Replacing WA — match WA bore depth Replacing WS — match WS bore depth

Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance Schedule

Installation sequence:

  1. Clean shaft, check keyway for burrs. Apply anti-fretting compound (Molykote G-n or equivalent) to shaft engagement zone.
  2. Slide WA/WS bore over shaft with key aligned. Torque setscrews to specification (M8: 10 N·m; M10: 20 N·m; M12: 35 N·m). Confirm no axial play.
  3. Mount torque arm bracket to housing (W-family-specific bolt pattern — do not substitute WP-family torque arm). Connect pivot pin to machine frame with 3–5 mm free movement at pivot centre.
  4. Connect motor to through-shaft input via flexible coupling. Align per coupling manufacturer specification (typically ≤0.1 mm radial, ≤0.5° angular misalignment).
  5. Fill with ISO VG 220 oil to sight glass centre for your mounting orientation. Guard unused through-shaft stub per AS 4024.1.
  6. Run-in: 30 min unloaded; 2 hr at 50% load; check for excessive heat (housing surface ≤ ambient +60 °C) and unusual noise; then full load.

Maintenance schedule:

Interval Task Action if Abnormal
200 h run-in check Check setscrew torque, check oil level and colour Re-torque setscrews; change oil if milky (water ingress)
2,500 h (mineral oil) Change oil, inspect seals, check torque arm bush Replace cracked bush; investigate seal wear source
5,000 h (synthetic) Change oil, inspect bore for fretting marks Fretting depth >0.2 mm: replace unit with WS; <0.2 mm: continue with anti-fretting compound
Annual Check housing for cracks, check coupling alignment, verify oil level Coupling misalignment >0.3 mm radial: realign immediately
WA WS Series worm gearbox full range maintenance guide Ever-Power Australia

Failure Diagnosis — Identifying WA/WS Problems in the Field

Symptom Most Likely Cause Remedy
Bore slip under load (shaft rotates, bore does not) Undertorqued setscrew or worn bore Re-torque setscrew; if bore worn, replace unit with WS + shrink disc
Rattling noise at input coupling Coupling insert worn; coupling misalignment Replace coupling insert; check and correct alignment
Housing abnormally hot (>90 °C surface) Low oil, wrong oil grade, or overloading Check oil level; switch to synthetic ISO VG 220; review load and SF
Oil leaking from bore seal Worn NBR seal; high oil level overfill Replace seal (Ever-Power stocks spares); check and correct oil level
Grinding noise at output under load Bronze wheel wear or damaged worm thread Inspect worm and wheel — unit replacement typically required
Rust-red powder at bore-shaft interface Bore fretting (iron oxide from micro-movement) Replace WA with WS; add anti-fretting compound or shrink disc

Applications Across Australian Industry

  • Legacy machine MRO (all states): Direct dimensional replacement for worn WA and WS units in W-convention Australian food, packaging, and conveyor machinery. Ever-Power stocks bore Ø14–Ø70 mm across all sizes for fast dispatch.
  • Grain and bulk handling (QLD, NSW, SA, WA): WS at sizes 80–135 for reversible grain conveyor head shaft drives where the deeper bore resists fretting under seasonal full-load reversals.
  • Water and irrigation infrastructure (Perth, Adelaide): WA at sizes 100–135 at 40:1–60:1 for W-convention gate actuator systems — through-shaft allows hand-wheel override from the unused input side; hollow bore eliminates output coupling on the gate shaft.
  • Food processing and mixing (Sydney, Melbourne): WA at sizes 60–100 for agitator and ribbon-blender shaft drives in W-convention machinery where self-locking at 30:1+ holds paddles stationary without power during cleaning cycles.

What Australian Engineers Say About the WA & WS Series

★★★★★

“We maintain a QLD grain facility with 30 WA and WS units across sizes 60 to 135. Ever-Power is the first supplier matching our W-convention bore dimensions exactly. Replaced 8 worn WA units with WS after fretting problems — the deeper WS bore depth solved the issue permanently.”

— Mark D., Bulk Grain Manager, Toowoomba QLD

★★★★★

“WA 80 units on our Melbourne packaging conveyor roller shafts — direct replacement for 15-year-old originals. Same bore dimensions, same torque arm attachment. Running 16 months without issues. The through-shaft encoder on the unused input side gives us the belt speed feedback we need.”

— Karen M., Maintenance Supervisor, Melbourne VIC

★★★★☆

“WS 175 on our WA mineral processing shaft drives — the Ø65 mm bore at 260 mm depth handles our shaft engagement and torque perfectly. 10-day delivery to Kalgoorlie was impressive for a large size. One star less because the size 175 required a torque arm kit ordered separately — I’d prefer it bundled.”

— Andrew P., Process Engineer, Kalgoorlie WA

★★★★★

“WA 100 on our Adelaide water plant gate actuators. The through-shaft hand-wheel emergency manual override is a critical safety requirement — no other single unit gives us hollow bore output plus dual-side input plus self-locking in the right dimensions. Works perfectly.”

— Colin R., Infrastructure Engineer, Adelaide SA

Why Choose Ever-Power for WA & WS Worm Gearboxes in Australia?

Ever-Power Worm Gear Reducer Co., Ltd. (Australia) at 27 Harley Crescent, Condell Park NSW 2200 stocks WA and WS units from size 40 through 200 for 5–10 business day dispatch. We provide free legacy interchange checks, bore fretting diagnosis (WA vs WS upgrade assessment), and torque arm sizing — all delivered in one business day. Visit About Us and technical reference at worm-gearbox.top.

Frequently Asked Questions — WA & WS Series Worm Gearbox

1. My existing WA is showing rust-red powder at the bore — is WS the right fix?+
Yes — rust-red (iron oxide) powder at the bore-shaft interface is the classic diagnostic sign of bore fretting. It indicates micro-movement between the bore wall and the driven shaft surface under cyclic loading, abrading and oxidising both surfaces. The correct remedies in priority order are: (1) specify WS to replace the WA — the deeper bore depth immediately reduces unit contact stress by 30–50%, pushing below the fretting initiation threshold; (2) add a shrink disc engagement to eliminate the clearance that allows micro-movement entirely; (3) apply anti-fretting compound to the shaft engagement zone when reinstalling as a temporary measure only. Never simply replace with the same WA and expect a different outcome without changing the engagement conditions.
2. Can WA and WS be used with food-grade oil for AS/NZS 4696 compliance?+
Yes — WA and WS housings are compatible with food-grade synthetic PAO H1-rated gear oils (e.g., Klübersynth GH 6-220 or equivalent). H1 oils are approved for incidental food contact per NSF ANSI 61 and support AS/NZS 4696 food machinery compliance when specified. Specify “H1 food-grade pre-fill” at time of order and Ever-Power will fill the unit with H1 oil before dispatch, eliminating the need for oil change before commissioning in a food processing plant. For washdown environments, also specify Viton shaft seals to prevent water ingress during high-pressure cleaning.
3. My machine uses the W-series dimensional convention — will WA/WS bore diameters match?+
The WA/WS bore diameters listed in the spec table (Ø14–Ø70 mm by frame size) follow the W-series dimensional convention — they are NOT the same as WP-family bore diameters at equivalent frame numbers. For example, WA/WS size 100 bore is Ø38 mm; WP-family WPKA size 100 bore is Ø40 mm. These are incompatible and cannot be substituted without reshafting the driven machine. Always confirm the existing bore diameter from the original unit nameplate or direct measurement before ordering a replacement. Contact Ever-Power with the existing bore diameter measurement for a confirmed size match.
4. What is the correct torque arm rubber bush replacement interval?+
Inspect the torque arm rubber bush annually. Replace when any of these signs are present: visible cracking or surface crazing of the rubber; bush hardness clearly increased compared with a new bush (should be soft and flexible, not hard/glassy); bush has compressed to less than 50% of its original diameter under the pivot pin load; or the housing has developed any rotational play at the torque arm attachment point. For continuous 24/7 operations at high cyclic loading (grain conveyors, mining applications), inspect every 2,500 hours. Ever-Power stocks replacement bush kits for all WA/WS frame sizes as standard spare parts.
5. Can WS 200 (218 kg) be installed vertically — output shaft pointing upward?+
Yes — WS/WA units can be installed in any of six standard mounting orientations including vertical bore-up, vertical bore-down, and horizontal bore. For each non-standard orientation, the oil fill level and oil port location differ significantly from the horizontal default. Contact Ever-Power with your specific mounting orientation code (M1–M6 per the dimensional diagram) for the correct oil fill volume, oil port location, and any vent plug relocation requirements for that orientation. For vertical bore-up orientation (bore pointing vertically upward), an additional lip seal is recommended on the upper bore face to prevent oil migration along the shaft surface — specify at time of order. At 218 kg, WS 200 requires mechanical lifting for all installation orientations.

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