Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1103301
38 | March - April 2019 | www . machinerylubrication.com e type of bearing selected for operation in a machine deter- mines how it should be ma inta ined for ma x imum equipment life. Of course, if you installed the bearing, you should know its type and configuration as well as its lubrication requirements prior to operation. Unfortunately, you often do not have the luxury of knowing which bearings are installed, especially with new or rebuilt equipment. is is when reading the bearing number and realizing what it is telling you will become important. Understanding which bearing type is installed and about to be lubricated is one of the main issues facing lubrication programs today. Frequently, this is overlooked or not given a second thought. Grease- lubricated bearings seem to be a bigger challenge than oil-lubricated bearings, as the configuration tends to have a greater impact on grease than it does oil. is also leads to blindly applying grease to any Zerk fitting that may be apparent. However, just because a grease fitting exists on a machine does not mean it should be greased or have lubricant applied. In fact, greasing components can actually result in a shorter life for the equipment and induce a failure mode. What You Should Know To properly lubricate a bearing, you must first know some key information about it. is would include the bearing type, whether it has additional design features, if it should be lubricated, its size and speed, as well as if it is the original bearing or has been replaced. The first place most people look to find this information is in a maintenance manual or on an equipment tag. Many manuals offer all the details you need with exploded views or parts lists. Bear- ings generally are listed by a set of standard numbers that identify all the specifics, allowing you to order a new bearing or determine proper relubrication activities. A more recent trend is for an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to provide a generic part number or claim the bearing is proprietary. is requires the end user to order spare parts from the OEM or call a technical center to obtain the necessary information. In addition to maintenance manuals, there is often a vast amount of information on the machine. The bearing type and operational data may be listed on metal plates commonly referred to as "tags." Although these are more readily found on equipment like pillow-block bearings and electric motors, some pumps, gearboxes and compressors may also have them. A shorthand code usually indicates which bearing is being identified on the tag. is typically is listed as drive end (DE), non-drive end (NDE) or opposite drive end (ODE). You may also see inboard and outboard bearing or input and output. This refers to a bearing supporting a shaft through the piece of equipment. e motor's drive end is the side that the shaft is coupled to the component. e back or fan side is denoted as the non-drive end. Understanding Your Bearings Prior to Lubrication IN THE TRENCHES A bearing number contains all the pertinent information needed to devise a best-practice maintenance strategy for the equipment." " Wes Cash | Noria Corporation B earing Lubric ation Examples of equipment tags