To prevent contaminants, including moisture, dust or dirt, from entering the bearing, the bearing should be handled and stored properly. First, the bearing should be placed horizontally in a clean, dry and room temperature environment in the original packaging; do not store it in the same warehouse as chemical products, and the relative humidity of the warehouse should not exceed 65%; the bearing cannot be stored on the ground; do not remove the packaging prematurely before installation and use, otherwise the bearing may be exposed to corrosion or contaminants. Bearings are precision parts and should be handled with care to avoid bumps, components falling, etc., which may cause premature failure of the bearing.
2. Use professional tools for installation and disassembly, and use appropriate equipment for carrying bearings.
In order to ensure uniform force during the installation and removal of bearings, special tools such as bearing pullers or induction heaters are required. Please refer to the instructions and precautions for the use of special tools. If a heater is required to install the bearing, the temperature should be strictly controlled below 120°C; when using a puller during disassembly, the use method and precautions must be clearly stated.
3. Before installing the bearing, carefully check the actual condition of the shaft or bearing seat.
Be familiar with the correct installation method and wipe the surface with a soft cloth before installation (the wipe cloth cannot be replaced by old cotton wool, etc.).
4. Correct installation
When mounting the bearing, the correct method should be used, which depends on the type of bearing and the type of fit. The radial ball bearing rings can be installed with various fits, from clearance fit to interference fit, depending on the type of load, speed and vibration level. The position of applying pressure during installation must be correct, otherwise it may cause damage to the rolling elements.
5. Proper lubrication
One of the main causes of bearing failure is lubrication. This includes using the wrong lubricant, as well as using too much or too little lubricant. Environmental conditions, temperature, speed and load conditions need to be considered to select the correct lubricant, fill amount and lubrication method.
6. Avoid using the temperature beyond the range
The operating temperature of the bearing must be within the designed limit temperature range. Otherwise, long-term operation will lead to reduced load capacity and early failure of the bearing. In addition, during regular maintenance, it is necessary to pay attention to the discoloration of the rings, rolling elements and cages, because this may indicate overheating, which may be caused by excessive operating temperature or improper lubrication, and must be paid attention to.
7. Avoid corrosion as much as possible
Bearing corrosion is a common form of damage. When bearings are exposed to a humid environment, water may intrude, causing bearing corrosion and eventually premature bearing failure. When specifically targeting corrosive environment applications, choosing the right bearing is key, and different materials and sealing forms need to be used for bearing design.
8. Choose your alternatives carefully
If a bearing does reach the end of its useful life, replace it with one of equal or higher quality than the original. A lower quality replacement may result in greater losses in the long run.
9. Monitoring
Bearings rarely fail without any warning signs, but excessive noise, vibration, and temperature rise can all be signs of a deeper problem. If a bearing exhibits any unusual behavior, it should be monitored more closely to determine the cause.
10. Seek professional help
Bearing professionals can provide better maintenance methods and recommendations for your specific application and can help you diagnose bearing problems. If in doubt, seek professional help.
