How to Grease a Double Sealed Ball Bearing?
Properly lubricating your double sealed ball bearing plays a significant role in maintaining your machinery’s performance. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of greasing a double sealed ball bearing.
Identify If Your Bearing Needs to Be Greased or Replaced
Before disassembling your machinery to grease a bearing, it is best to identify if the bearing needs to be greased or just replaced entirely. First, conduct a visual inspection of the bearing for signs of wear, damage, or corrosion. If the bearing exhibits extensive physical damage such as pitting, cracking, or visible wear, it is advisable to replace it rather than attempting to grease it.
Additionally, consider the bearing’s performance indicators, such as noise, vibration, and heat generation during operation. Unusual noises, vibrations, or consistently elevated temperatures may signal internal damage, making replacement a more suitable choice. Factor in the bearing’s criticality to your machinery, cost considerations, and consult with experts if uncertain. The decision to grease or replace a bearing depends on its condition, performance, maintenance history, and its significance to your machinery.
8 Steps to Greasing:
- Safety First: Before you begin, ensure that the machinery is turned off and safely secured. Let your team and others know what machine you are working on. Always prioritize safety when working with machinery.
- Check If the Bearing is Greaseable: Before attempting to grease or remove a bearing, it is crucial to check whether the bearing is designed to be greased. Not all bearings are greaseable, and attempting to grease a sealed, non-greaseable bearing can lead to seal damage, over-packing, reduced efficiency, and potential warranty issues. Check the manufacturer’s specifications or documentation to confirm if your bearing is greaseable. If you need help confirming if a bearing is greaseable or not, feel free to reach out to us on our Support Page.
- Bearing Removal: Locate the double sealed ball bearings that require greasing. These bearings have two rubber seals, one on each side. Before you start disassembling the components, it is good practice to take clear pictures of your machinery or application. These photos can serve as a reference to reassemble the components exactly as they were.
- Seal Removal: Using a screwdriver or a seal removal tool, carefully remove the seals from both sides of the bearing. Be gentle to avoid damaging the seals. Click Here to read how to replace a bearing seal.
- Clean the Bearings: Wipe the exposed bearing surfaces with a clean cloth or a compressed air can to remove any dirt, debris, or old grease. You should not clean bearings with water unless the bearing is specifically designed and rated for water exposure. Water can be detrimental to most bearings because it can lead to corrosion, rust, and damage to the bearing’s internal components.
- Apply Grease: To properly apply bearing grease, it is recommended to use a grease gun or an appropriate lubrication tool, not your fingers. Grease needs to be evenly distributed across the bearing surfaces without contamination. If you need a recommendation on bearing grease, please feel free to reach out to us. Ensure the grease fills the spaces between the balls or rollers.
- Reattach Seals or Replace: If you removed the seals, carefully place them back on to the bearing, ensuring they are properly seated. Use gentle, even pressure to press them into place. If the seals were damaged or worn, replace them with new ones.
- Test Rotation: Rotate the bearing by hand to distribute the grease evenly and confirm smooth rotation. If necessary, add more grease.
Properly greasing double sealed ball bearings is essential for maintaining your machinery’s efficiency and longevity. Remember to check if the bearing is greaseable before taking it apart.
For any further inquiries or if you need assistance with your bearings or seals, do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team at (616) 669-0600 or email us at Sales@mdsofmi.com. We are here to provide expert guidance and ensure your maintenance tasks are conducted with precision.
Click Here to View Double Sealed Ball Bearings
Need a new bearing? Browse our selection of double sealed ball bearings on our online store and ensure top-notch performance for your machinery.
