Tech Tips

Bearing Service, Inc. prides itself on educating our customers on the proper use of the bearings and power transmission products we distribute. Even though most of you have experience in using these products, we like to pass along ideas, rules of thumb, and helpful hints to enhance their life.

Click on the individual tabs to find a helpful tip on using one of our many products.

V-Belt drive maintenance

Here's a handy belt drive maintenance tip: When replacing belts on your belt drives, take a good look at the condition of the sheaves before you begin the installation. Since belts can be LESS expensive to replace than the sheave or pulley, often people choose to install brand new belts on worn out sheaves. Although you may save the cost of the sheave upfront, you're likely to experience loss of power due to belt slip, shortened belt life by 50% or more, and increased downtime in the future. How often should you replace your sheaves? The common rule of thumb is to replace your sheaves on every third change of belts. By following this simple rule, your new belts will last longer and you'll have a lot fewer problems with your belt drives in the future!

New reducer lubrication

When looking to replace a gearbox or speed reducer, here are a few tips that can help you get the maximum life from your new unit, and prevent premature lubrication failure. A commonly overlooked fact is that many speed reducers are shipped from the factory WITHOUT oil! Before installation, make sure that the new unit has the proper amount and type of oil. An lubrication instruction sheet is normally provided with the unit, indicating the correct quantity and viscosity of oil to be added. Be aware that each gearbox manufacturer may have a different lubrication specification. Finally, you may need to move the speed reducer's vent, drain, and oil level plugs if mounting the unit upside-down or on a vertical surface. By following these suggestions, you will be SURE to get the MAXIMUM LIFE POSSIBLE out of your new speed reducer!

When to replace a chain

Here are a few maintenance tips to help extend the life of your chain:

  1. When replacing chain, always inspect the corresponding sprockets. Be sure to replace any worn sprockets to avoid shortening the life of your new chain.
  2. For best performance, keep the chain tension on the slack span within 4 to 6 percent of the span length.
  3. As chain wears, it becomes longer. The normal maximum chain-wear elongation is around 3 percent, after which time, you should replace the chain to avert greater maintenance problems.

By following these simple tips, you'll know the right time to replace your chain without causing additional damage to other drive components.

Handling & mounting new bearings

Would you like to keep your bearings running smoothly, for as long as possible? Then, follow these tips on good handling and mounting practices:

  1. When handling bearings, ‘KEEP THEM CLEAN'. Make sure all mating parts are in good condition, clean, and lightly lubricated.
  2. Use clean, burr-free tools designed for the job. Stay away from tools that are painted or chrome-plated, or those that are made of bronze or brass.
  3. Only remove bearings from original packaging just before installation.
  4. Don't wash the preservative off of new bearings - t protects the bearing and is compatible with all greases.

Just follow these tips, and you'll be sure to save time, money, and a lot of aggravation down the road!

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