Project 4: Bearings
Overview
Parts that slide or roll create friction which can be reduced through the use of lubricated bearings. A
bearing is a machine part that bears the frictional load and guides or restrains moving parts. Maintenance
technicians identify and replace defective bearings and identify causes of bearing failure.
Skill Outcomes
Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:
• Identify and select bearings
• Identify types of bearing failures
• Mount pillow block bearings
• Dismount pillow block bearings
Plain, Anti-Friction and Self Aligning Bearings
Bearings are mainly classified as plain or anti-friction. Plain bearings have two surfaces that slide relative
to one another. Anti-friction bearings (ball or roller bearings) use rolling motion for use when free
rotation under load is required.
Anti-friction bearings
Anti-friction bearings have two common configurations called roller and ball bearings. Roller bearings
use roller-shaped elements, while ball bearings use spherical balls. Each type has characteristics that meet
different bearing requirements. The following figure shows both a ball and roller bearing.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 1
Like plain bearings, anti-friction bearings are divided into groups according to their main function.
For ball bearings, the three functional groups are:
Radial - designed to carry a load that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. An example of this type of
load is a wheel rotating on an axle.
Thrust - designed to carry thrust loads only. These loads are parallel to the axis of rotation and act to
cause motion on the shaft. An example of this type of load is the rotor of a vertically mounted motor.
Angular contact - designed to support combined radial and thrust loads. Since each bearing supports
loads in only one direction, these bearings are normally installed in pairs.
Parts of a Ball Bearing
A ball bearing consists of several parts. The following figure shows the main parts is a cutaway of a ball
bearing.
Rolling elements can be roller-shaped (roller bearings), spherical (ball bearings) cylindrical, or tapered.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 2
Roller bearings have four common configurations.
Cylindrical- roller bearing with cylindrical rollers used to carry heavy loads. They have the highest speed
capability of any type of roller bearing. A special type of cylindrical roller called a needle roller bearing
uses very thin cylinders that roll against each other instead of a separator.
Spherical- roller bearing with barrel-shaped rollers. The inner race on spherical bearings moves
independently of the outer race. This type of bearing supports heavy radial and thrust loads.
Thrust - roller bearing with barrel-shaped rollers designed to carry thrust loads. Thrust loads are parallel
to the axis of rotation and cause axial motion and forces on the shaft.
Tapered- carry radial, thrust, or combination loads. This bearing can handle each of these loads alone or
both loads at the same time.
Parts of a Roller Bearing
Bearing Dimensions
Ball bearings are manufactured in standardized dimensions of bore, land, and width. Bore is the inside
diameter of the inner ring and the outside diameter of the outer ring. Land is the outside diameter of the
inner ring and the inside diameter of the outer ring. Width is the thickness of the bearing from front to
back.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 3
How Bearings are Numbered
Bearings are produced in a large range of types and sizes that meet industry standardized specifications.
The bearing numbering system is based on standard dimensions of bore, diameter, and width.
Bearings of the same size and type but having different manufacturers are interchangeable. Most bearing
sizes are available in four load-carrying capacities or series. They are: extra-light duty, light duty, medium
duty, and heavy duty.
• Bearings with the same bore can have different load-carrying capacities and different diameters
and widths.
• Bearings with the same outside diameter can also have different load-carrying capacities (and
different bores and widths).
Bearing Numbering System
• The unique numbering system for all series of ball bearings uses numbers with three digits. The
first digit indicates the bearing series:
100 = extra light duty
200 = light duty
300 = medium duty
400 = heavy duty
• The second and third digits indicate the bore in millimeters
If the second and third digits are 00, 01, 02, or 03, the bore dimensions are 10, 12, 15, and
17 millimeters, respectively.
When the second and third digits are 04 or greater, you can calculate bore dimensions by
multiplying the two digits by 5 millimeters.
Example:
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 4
Bearing number 208 identifies a light duty series bearing (200 series) with a bore of 40 millimeters (08 x
5 millimeters).
Bearing number 317 identifies a medium duty series bearing (300 series) with a bore of 85 millimeters
(17 x 5 millimeters).
Many manufacturers use prefixes and suffixes (letters or numbers before or after the bearing
number) to identify bearings with special modifications (e.g., different seals or materials and non-
standard cages).
Always identify any bearing that you remove so you can replace it with an exact duplicate. If the
same manufacturer made the two bearings, this is a simple matter of matching bearing numbers.
When two manufacturers are involved, you must cross-reference the bearing. Identify each
bearing in its respective manufacturer's catalog to make sure that the replacement duplicates the
special characteristics of the original bearing.
Each manufacturer uses a different numbering system to identify a bearing with the same
characteristics, so you must use the manufacturer's catalog to match the characteristics that make
bearings interchangeable. Do not replace a bearing with a different type unless that substitution
has been approved.
Lab - Bearing Selection
Overview
In this lab exercise you will learn to select a bearing for a given task.
Performance Objective
Given scenario specifications, choose the proper replacement bearing from the mock catalogs.
Procedure
1. You have removed a light series bearing that you must replace with an exact duplicate. The
bearing has: a. two seals
b. 40mm bore
c. 80mm outside diameter
d. 18mm width
2. Find a replacement bearing in the following three manufacturers’ catalogs. Each of the three
catalog sections contain the specifications for the light series bearing you must replace.
3. Write down the bearing number listed in the catalogs.
In section A, the bearing number with the given dimensions is ____ _____________
In section B, the same bearing is __ _____________________________________
The bearing number in section C is _____________________________________
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 5
Bearing Housing
Bearings can be installed onto a shaft, or they can be pressed into a housing. The housing holds the
bearing in place and keeps it aligned with the shaft. Several types of housings exist. Two such housings
are pillow blocks and flanged mounts.
Pillow Blocks Bearings
Pillow blocks are a common means of mounting bearings on horizontal or slanted surfaces. The force on
the bearing is directed to the base of the pillow block, regardless of the mounting angle. Pillow block
housings can be used to mount either plain or anti-friction bearings.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 6
Flanged Mount
A flanged mount housing is similar to a pillow block. The next figure shows a flanged housing. The outer
race of the bearing is mounted into the bored hole in the center of the flange. Once the bearing rests in the
housing, the housing can be mounted on any horizontal or slanted surface. The small cap on the edge of
the flange allows oil or grease to be placed into the bearing.
Self-Aligning Bearings
Self-aligning bearings compensate for misaligned shafts. The balls are not in outer races, but in fixed
inner ring races. The bearing aligns itself with the shaft because the two rows of balls are free to roll on a
spherical surface inside the outer ring. This allows the inner ring to remain perpendicular to the shaft
while the outer ring tilts in relation to the shaft.
Troubleshooting Bearings
When you discover that a faulty bearing is causing an equipment malfunction, your first reaction may be
to replace the bearing and resume production. However, replacing the bearing may not solve the
underlying problem. You should also try to determine why the bearing failed. Do not assume that
eliminating the immediate indication will correct the root cause of the bearing failure.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 7
Your first indication of bearing failure will be abnormal noise, excessive temperature, vibration, or
abnormal machine operation. The next figure is a troubleshooting chart that lists common indications,
their causes, and corrective actions.
The troubleshooting chart can be used to troubleshoot bearing problems when heat, noise, and vibration is
evident in a machine.
Bearing Failure Analysis
As a Maintenance Technician, you must be able to observe failure characteristics to determine why a
bearing failed. You must examine failed bearings precisely and systematically to obtain the most
information. When you notice anything unusual, try to pinpoint the problem using the following steps:
• Observe the machine while it is running, if possible. Make a note of any noise, vibration,
temperature rise, lubricant loss, or dirt accumulation before you remove the old bearing.
• Remove the caps of split pillow blocks and the seals (without washing them in solvent). Carefully
remove the grease and place the parts and grease in a clean place for later examination.
• Note the torque of the tightening nut that clamps the rings.
• Note the axial and radial positions of the bearing.
• Check if shaft and housing fit and note the condition of the seatings and surrounding parts.
• After you have removed the bearing, visually examine the components. Then, wash the parts and
the grease in clean solvent and filter the solvent to detect foreign matter.
Some failure characteristics that you will observe and their causes are listed in the next figure. The
drawings will help you identify each failure characteristic.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 8
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 9
The following failure analysis chart relates the indications illustrated in the previous drawings to these
four main causes for premature bearing failure.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 10
Performing Preventive Maintenance on Mounted Bearings
Regular scheduled maintenance can prolong the life of a bearing and reduce downtime. Bearings should
be inspected on a regularly scheduled basis. One way to do this is by setting up a maintenance schedule
similar to the chart below.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 11
Review
Answer the following questions:
Question 1 Explain the function(s) of a bearing.
Question 2 How are bearings classified?
Question 3 What are three indications that a bearing has failed?
Question 4 When numbering a bearing, what do the three digits signify?
Question 5 Name the indicated bearing parts.
MECE 5102 Maintenance Management Dr. Tsapi Kevin
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (MIE)
NAHPI Reference IMP-1 – Mechanical Power Transmission Page 12
