How To Take Care of a Tapered Roller Bearings

It is nearly impossible to find a device responsible for caring any type of load without using greasable tapered roller bearing. They are being used in trailers, front wheels of vehicles as well as agricultural machinery wheels.

Tapered roller bearings are working best where radial and thrust forces are high. Usually, they are installed in pairs (inner and outer) to cope with axial load. They also transfer the load more evenly to the roller surface.

In 1895 John Lincoln Scott, a farmer from Wilmot, Indiana, received a patent for his invention of roller bearing and in few years Henry Timken developed the tapered construction. This proves that roller bearing was created due to the creativity of American farmers.

If you take good care of roller bearings they will provide an excellent service and last you a long time. They might even outlast the machinery they are attached to. Below are tips to help you with maintenance guidelines.

The key to long life of roller bearing is cleanliness, grease, and preload. This three components are interconnected, however, it is worth to look at them separately.

It is very common to see a trailer or wagon with missing or damaged bearing grease cap. The grease cap has two roles - to hold dirt and moisture that increases wearing as well as save any grease that can liquefy as a result of heat emission. If the grease softens it is stored in the cap. That is why the grease cap should have a tight fit and be fully seated against the hub.

The wheel bearing requires special service that consists of its removal, chemical cleanliness, and allowing enough time for it to dry. The roller, cage, rings, and race must be carefully examined for wear, pitting, or discoloration and then repacked with the proper grease.

The easiest and most convenient way to grease the bearing is to use specific greasing device. The manual or air pressure helps to lubricate the gaps between rollers, cage, and inner and outer rings. When packed properly, the grease will be forced out between the rollers and cage and extruded on the side of where the rollers meet the inner and outer rings.

Which Grease Should You Use

It is also very important to use the right grease. Most grease cartridges contain universal grease that does not have the chemical properties required for a wheel bearing.

Moreover, some manufacturers such as Ford require specific grease. Each grease type has a its own specific colour. There are black, red or traditional oil-colored greases. It is important to remember that different types of grease should never be mixed with each other.

Based on article by Successful Farming

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