Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/934530
www . machinerylubrication.com | January - February 2018 | 37 applied lubricant, it is important to understand the root causes that can contribute to lubrication failure mechanisms along with the most common rea sons why bea rings prematurely reach the end of their life. Following are the top eight lubrication failure mechanisms for rolling- element bearings: 1. Unsuitable Lubricant First, you must choose t he correct lubricant for the applica- tion. Fundamental properties, such as the viscosity, additive package and consistency (for grease), should be carefully selected based on the bearing type, speed factor and oper- ating conditions. If these factors are not thoroughly considered and an unsuitable lubricant is applied, the lubricant may become overly stressed or be insufficient for the machine's lubrication needs. In either situa- tion, the bearing will likely undergo premature wear and failure. 2. Lack of Lubricant For greased bearing applications, the correct regreasing volume and frequency must be established to ensure the bearing load zones are lubricated properly. Too much time bet ween regrea sing inter va ls or applying too little grease will cause excessive boundary conditions and bearing wear. is type of failure mechanism also tends to trigger a chain reaction of other failure mechanisms, such as hot running conditions, and generate wear parti- cles, further perpetuating the failure mode. Even in oil applications, routinely monitoring the oil level can mean the difference between optimal lubrication and no lubrication. 3. Excess Lubricant More grease is not always better. When too much grease is added to a bearing in medium to high-speed applications, the temperature will rise from the churning, and the machine must work harder to overcome the fluid friction. As the temperature rises for the excessive grease charge, the viscosity will drop and other adverse effects will ensue. 4. Hot Running Conditions A bearing running at a higher than expected temperature can be either a root cause or a symptom. If ML Don't Risk Your Equipment with Inferior Oil Enjoy the economic, machine and lubricant-life benefits of using the right Summit synthetic oil in the right application. A great example of these benefits are found in Summit's full line of HySyn synthetic hydraulic oils. We even have a food grade option. Check them out online at klsummit.com/products. Quality Service Expertise See all our products at: klsummit.com ( 800.749.5823 Klüber Lubrication NA LP Summit products are made in U.S.