It seems that every maintenance department has a hard time installing bearings because of the problems inherent in conventional heating methods.

Applying care, good technique and heating methods are better. Over 90% of rotating equipment has defects at startup that can result in equipment failure.

One reason bearing installation is often a herculean task is not using proper heating methods. Excessive heat applied to the bearing during installation can introduce defects that lead to premature equipment failure. Instead, heating a bearing on an induction heater, automatically demagnetizing it, and then slipping it on the shaft free of stresses is the way it should be done. The results of overheating a bearing are increased maintenance costs, increased safety risks, and more equipment downtime.

Proper heating methods and best practices should be applied to correctly install bearings. Induction heaters such as SURETHERM can help eliminate induced bearing defects due to poor fitting and improper mounting techniques. Induction bearing heaters provide increased safety, and increased efficiency and reduce the risk of bearing contamination and damage that can result from using brute strength, oil baths, blowtorches, or other improper methods of heating bearings for proper installation.

Here are some conventional methods that are used in Industry and why they are not the way to install bearings:

Heating a Bearing with a Blowtorch

– No temperature control
– Risk of overheating
– Grease leaks out of the bearing
– Tension in material

Heating a Bearing using a Hot Plate

– No temperature control
– Risk of overheating
– Grease leaks out of the bearing
– Tension in material
– Dangerous (plate stays hot)

Heating a Bearing in an Oil Bath

– Slow heating process
– New grease cooks off the bearing
– Dangerous (hot oil)
– Environmentally unfriendly

Heating a Bearing in an Oven

– Slow heating process
– High energy consumption
– Grease leaks out of the bearing