It is a statistic that haunts maintenance managers: nearly 50% of all premature bearing failures are caused by improper lubrication.
Many teams view lubrication as a simple task—grab a grease gun and pump until it squirts out. This approach is not maintenance; it is destruction. Lubrication is a science. It is the lifeblood of the bearing, creating a microscopic film that separates metal from metal. When that film fails, the bearing fails.
To stop the cycle of failure, you must stop making these three common lubrication mistakes.
1. The “More is Better” Myth (Over-Greasing)
Over-greasing is just as dangerous as under-greasing.
- The Problem: When a bearing housing is stuffed full of grease, the rolling elements have to push through a solid wall of thickener. This causes fluid friction, known as churning.
- The Result: Churning generates massive heat. This heat breaks down the oil, hardens the thickener, and eventually causes the bearing to seize.
- The Fix: Most bearings only need the housing to be 30% to 50% full. Use a formula or an ultrasonic greasing device to know exactly when to stop.
2. The “Grease is Grease” Error (Incompatibility)
You would never put diesel in a gasoline engine, yet many technicians unknowingly mix incompatible greases.
- The Problem: Greases are defined by their thickener (soap base), such as Lithium, Calcium, or Polyurea.
- The Result: If you mix a Lithium-based grease with a Polyurea-based grease, they can react chemically. The mixture often turns into a runny soup that leaks out, or a hard block that provides no lubrication.
- The Fix: Standardize your facility. Color-code your grease guns to match the fitting on the machine. If you change grease types, the bearing must be completely purged and cleaned first.
3. Contaminated Delivery
The grease in the drum is clean. The grease in the bearing is dirty. What happened in between?
- The Problem: Uncapped grease nipples, dirty grease gun tips, and open containers allow dust and silica to enter the mix.
- The Result: You are essentially pumping “lapping compound” (liquid sandpaper) into your precision bearing.
- The Fix: Clean the zerk fitting before you attach the gun. Keep grease containers sealed.
We Supply the Solution, Not Just the Grease
At Ivor Bearings Inc., we understand tribology (the science of lubrication). We stock premium lubricants designed for specific loads, speeds, and temperatures.
We are your source for:
- High-performance greases from SKF, TIMKEN, and FAG.
- Automatic Lubricators: Take the human error out of the equation with single-point lubricators that deliver the perfect amount of grease at the perfect time.
Smooth Operations Start Here
Don’t let a $10 tube of the wrong grease destroy a $1,000 bearing. Get the right product and the right advice.
For a lubrication audit or to order supplies, contact us HERE, write at quotes@ivorbearings.com or call us at +1 305 769 9459.
