More Causes of Bearing Failure

Posted May 27, 2015 by admin

The response to our recent post about bearing failure pointed out something we forgot to mention.  That’s certainly not an exhaustive list of failure causes.  In the interest of being thorough, we thought we would continue the list with a few more common causes of bearing failure and damage.

Vibration Brinell - Also known as false brinell, this is a situation where the balls are moving rapidly around the raceway even when idle.  Without the bearing continuing to spin, lubrication will settle to the underside of the bearing and parts of the metal will wear down as the balls continue to spin.

Poor Lubrication - On the subject of lubrication, this chemical additive to the rotation process is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the bearing structure.  With incorrect or improper lubrication, the balls can increase temperature and wear at the raceways.

Stress Fatigue - When a bearing takes on an excessive load from one side, the stress reversals on the interior ball bearings can create flexing of the metal.  This flexing wears on the metal, puts in tension and compresses it.  This metal will eventually begin to flake away as a result.

High Temperatures - Most premature bearing failure in the field is caused by excessive temperatures and conditions.  High temperatures, be they atmospheric or due to excess friction, can cause the lubricant inside the bearing to boil and bleed reducing its effectiveness.  Any oxidation that occurs in these conditions will deposit bits of carbon in the bearing that can cause blockage and failure.  Even the metal itself can take damage from excessive heat.  High temperatures are a big enemy of bearings overall.

A few other culprits have claimed their fair share of bearings including rust caused by dampness in storage and a failure to properly clean and maintain the bearing.  The important part is the diagnostic process.  Trust only the best and most careful team to quality test and maintain your bearings.

Common Causes of Bearing Failure

Posted May 21, 2015 by admin

Our lab technicians have investigated countless situations of bearing malfunction and damage.  You don’t become the leading name in quality bearing supply without learning a few things along the way.  It’s not always easy to diagnose the exact cause of a bearing failure, but after careful inspection, most of the time the cause is related to one or more of the following causes.

Foreign Matter - Given the sliding and rolling nature of the bearing’s structure, its biggest enemy is foreign particles of dirt, dust, grit, lint, and grime of all kinds which can cause wear and pitting inside the raceways.

Poor Mounting - If the bearing is not properly mounted it will rotate incorrectly and eventually cause disruption in the mechanics.  If the bearing is fitted to the shaft by beating it into place, it will cause dents in the outer race.  If the shaft fit or the housing fit are too loose, there can be excess heat from added friction or shut down with the collection of loose particles.  Likewise, the fit can be too tight and cause similar problems.

Bearing misalignment fixes & solutions by VNC BearingMisalignment - A common culprit for the cause of overheating or separator failure is a misalignment of bent or out-of-square shafts and spacers.  We tend to find the tracks veering side to side when we look to the raceways.

Electrical Damage - Any electric current that passes through bearing will charge the metal balls and spaces between them with a charge that can cause arcing and burning to the rolling elements.  This results in denting and cratering of the interior raceways.

Our technicians have seen these causes and more in bearings of all types and designs.  We take pride in a close, quality lab inspection of each and every bearing that comes through our labs for quality assessment.  We’ve identified the causes of bearing failures in a wide array of diverse industries.  Let us help you with your roller bearings today.