Bearing Lubrication
Bearings fail from both under- and over-greasing — over-lubrication is the more common operator error, not under.
Bearing over-greasing is more common than under-greasing at most plants; forcing excessive grease raises internal friction, heats the bearing, and accelerates failure.
Use the motor manufacturer's grease quantity, typically expressed in grams or strokes of a manual grease gun; record these on a tag attached to the motor.
Grease relief fittings (held closed until the bearing is re-greased, then opened to vent the old grease) help prevent over-greasing — install on high-value motors if they aren't already in place.
Grease compatibility is a real issue: mixing lithium-complex and polyurea greases can soften the grease and turn it to liquid — never introduce a different grease without first relubing the bearing completely.
The industry's most useful newsletter, straight from the plant floor.
One email. No fluff. New lessons, equipment breakdowns, and process control notes, delivered when there's something worth reading.
