Overheated bearing

CodeReason for condition Practical solution

1 Grease or oil is breaking down because it Consult lubricant manufacturer to determine proper type of lubricant. Check miscibility if grease
is the wrong type for operating or oil has been changed from one type to another.
conditions.
2 Low oil level. Lubricant is being lost Oil level should be just below the centre of the lowest rolling element in the bearing (fig 1).
through the seal. Fill housing 1/3 to 1/2 with grease.
Insufficient grease in the housing.
3 Housing is fully packed with grease, or Purge grease until the housing is 1/2 filled with grease.
the oil level is too high. This causes For oil lubricated bearings, reduce the oil level to just below the centre of the lowest rolling
excessive lubricant churning, high element (fig 2).
operating temperature or oil leakage.
4 Bearing has inadequate internal clearance Check whether overheated bearing had clearance according to original design specification (fig
for conditions where external heat is 3). If so, then change to bearing with increased radial clearance, i.e. Normal to C3 or C3 to C4. If
conducted through the shaft. This causes not, order to specification. Check with SKF if the bearing designation has become illegible.
the inner ring to expand excessively.
7 Housing bore is out-of-round. Housing is Check and scrape the housing bore to relieve pinching of the bearing. If necessary turn the
8 warped or distorted. Supporting surface housing bore to the correct dimension. Ensure that the supporting surface is flat and that the shims
9 uneven. Housing bore is undersized. cover the entire area of the housing base (fig 4). Housing bore is undersized if non-locating
39 bearing is changed from separable to non-separable bearing, e.g. from cylindrical roller bearing to
48 deep groove ball bearing.
12 Contact seals are dried out or have Replace contact seals with seals having correct spring tension (fig 5). Lubricate seals.
excessive spring tension.
13 Rotating seals or flingers are rubbing Check the running clearance of the rotating seal or flinger to eliminate rubbing (fig 6). Correct the
31 against stationary parts. alignment.
38
14 Oil return holes are blocked. Pumping Clear the holes. Drain used oil and refill to the proper level with fresh lubricant (fig 7).
action of the seals causes oil leakage
15 Cross location Insert shim between housing and cover flange to relieve axial preloading of bearing (fig).
16 Two locating bearings on one shaft. Move the covers in one of the housings outwards. Use shims to obtain adequate clearance
Insufficient clearance in bearing caused between the housing and the outer ring (fig 8). Apply axial spring load on the outer ring, if
by excessive shaft expansion. possible, to reduce axial play of the shaft.
19 Adapter sleeve is tightened excessively. Loosen the lock nut and sleeve assembly. Retighten it sufficiently to clamp the sleeve on to the
shaft, but be sure the bearing turns freely (fig 9).
21 Unbalanced load. Rebalance the machine.
49 Housing bore is too large Replace the housing with one having the proper bore (fig 10).
26 Shaft shoulder is rubbing against bearing Remachine the shaft shoulder to clear the seals. Check that shoulder diameter is in accordance
seals. with SKF recommendations (fig 11).
32 No lubricant in bearing due to incorrect Clear out the clogged oil hole to vent the oil gauge (fig 12).
oil level.
33 Incorrect linear or angular alignment of Correct alignment by shimming the housings. Ensure that the shafts are coupled in a straight line,
34 two or more coupled shafts with two or especially when three or more bearings operate on one shaft. Be sure to use full support shims (fig
more bearings. 13).
35 Constant oil level cup is mounted too The static oil level must not be higher than the centre of the lowest rolling element. Replace the
36 high or low. constant level oiler with a sight gauge.
The cup is located opposite to the Locate cup with rotation of bearing. Sketch illustrates correct position of constant level oil cup
bearing's direction of rotation. with respect to rotation (fig 14).
37 Washer prong is rubbing against the Remove the locking washer. Straighten the prong or replace with a new washer (fig 15).
bearing.
42 Contact seals are excessively worn, Replace seals after thoroughly flushing bearing and refilling with fresh lubricant (fig 16).
causing lubricant loss or permitting dirt to
enter the bearing.
47 Bearing seat diameter is oversized, Grind shaft to get a proper fit between the shaft and the bearing inner ring. If regrinding is not
causing excessive inner ring expansion. possible change to bearing with larger radial clearance (fig 17).
This reduces bearing clearance.
50 "Pounding out" or hammering out of Rebore the housing and press a steel bushing in the bore. Machine the bushing bore to the correct
housing bore due to too soft metal. The size (fig 18).
resulting enlarged bore causes the outer
ring to spin in the housing.