Kaydon Bearings: Tips to Extend Their Life

Kaydon is known for leading the bearing technology.

Kayddon bearings offer creative ways to ensure longer service life of bearings. They are great at reducing downtime and the costs of maintaining smooth operation.

These bearings come in a range of bore sizes, cross sections, and have features that save weight and options of corrosion resistance, all while ensuring excellent running accuracy.

Kaydon's designed and manufactured bearing types, like slewing ring bearings and thin section ball bearings, are used in key applications like cranes, wind turbines, and medical equipment. In these places, it's vital that the bearings are reliable and have a long life.

This blog post has got you covered with must-know tips to extend your Kaydon bearings' operational life. It includes the right way to install them, keep them lubed, and take care of them so your machines stay reliable with less cost.

Understand Common Bearing Issues

Large kaydon slewing bearings are crucial in tough jobs like operating cranes and excavators.

Sometimes, they can run into a few issues. They might break down early because there is no proper mounting, didn't get enough care or enough oil, or were not lined up properly.

These bearing failures don't just stop work in its tracks; they also have a great financial impact. They're responsible for both pricey interruptions and hefty repair bills.

Tips for Proper Bearing Installation

Prepare the Mounting Surface

To get the mounting surface ready for Kaydon bearings, finish all welding and stress-relieving treatments before you make the surface smooth. After welding, you must machine the surface to achieve the necessary flatness.

Don't use grout or shims to fix uneven surfaces, because it can mess up the bearing alignment and make them work less well.

Achieve Proper Alignment

Getting the alignment just right is crucial for Kaydon bearings to work at their best. To ensure Kaydon bearings perform at their best, it's important to follow a couple of key steps.

First, use pilot bearings to accurately position the bearings without causing any distortion. This means making sure the proper alignment of bearings.

Second, check that the mounting holes are within the correct tolerances. This prevents any interference with the bearings and also stops the bearings from getting distorted.

Secure the Bearing Effectively

To make sure Kaydon bearings are safely in place, use a full circle of evenly spaced, strong bolts. When you tighten the bolts, follow a star-shaped pattern and use the right amount of force to keep the tension even on all bolts.

Avoid using locking compounds and lock washers, as they can cause the bolts to lose tension. This way, the bearing stays firmly attached and works well.

Tips for Effective Lubrication

Lubricate the Bearings Regularly

Keeping Kaydon bearings well-lubricated is key. Use the heavy duty, high-pressure grease that's recommended. Lubricate the bearings about every 100 hours for equipment that doesn't move very fast.

When you're lubricating, spin the bearing to help spread the grease evenly. Keep going until pushing the old grease out. This helps the bearing stay in top shape and last longer.

Lubricate the Gear Teeth

For Kaydon bearings with gear teeth, frequent lubrication is crucial because of the meshing action that purges lubricant.

For equipment that moves slowly or only moves now and then, put a little bit of grease on every 8 hours. This ensures smooth running, extending the life of the bearings.

Regular Maintenance for Long Bearing Life

Check Bolt Tension Periodically

Regularly checking the tightness of the bolts is essential for Kaydon bearings.

According to the White Papers from Kaydon, you should start this check within the first 200 to 300 hours of use after installing them. Keep checking every 200 to 300 hours until the bolts stop losing tension. Upon completion of that process, you may then reduce the frequency of inspections.

Such regular checking keeps the bearings safely attached and working at their best.

Inspect Seals for Wear and Damage

Checking the seals on Kaydon bearings regularly is crucial to keep them clean and working well.

Look for any signs of wear or damage, clean up any dirt around the seals, and make sure to lubricate the bearings properly. You can tell if the lubrication is good if you see a little line of grease around the edge of the seal. This keeps the bearings clean and well-lubricated.

Monitor for Warning Signs of Wear

To stop surprises from happening, keep an eye out for signs that your bearings might be wearing out. This might show up as too much movement, sounds like something's grinding, or unusual vibrations.

These could mean there's a problem that needs fixing or that the bearings need replacing. Also, do a tilt test to check how the bearings are doing. This helps you know for sure if they need changing, which keeps your equipment running smoothly and safely.

Address Common Causes of Bearing Failures

Manage Loads Effectively

Managing the load and wear on Kaydon bearings effectively is key to their top performance. It requires to understand how different types of loads—like axial, radial, and tilting moments—affect the bearings.

To keep things running smoothly, use sturdy mounting structures that are rigid. This helps to reduce any bending and stops heavy loads from concentrating in one spot, which could hurt the bearings.

Handle Bearings with Care

To make sure Kaydon bearings stay in good shape and last, it's important to be gentle when putting them in or moving them. This helps avoid any damage.

Store the bearings somewhere that's clean and dry, and make sure they stay in their original sealed packaging until you're ready to install them. This helps preventing contamination.

Taking such good care of the bearings means they'll stay in perfect shape, ready to work at their best and last for long periods.

Upgrade Components to Extend Bearing Life

Consider Aftermarket Upgrades

Upgrading important parts like pitch, , gearbox, and generator bearings is essential, especially in wind turbines.

Kaydon Reali-Slim thin section bearings are designed to save weight and use less space, which is crucial in wind turbine applications.

Upgrading pitch bearings can increase the operational life of a wind turbine by as much as 10 years. This makes the turbines work more efficiently and also save money over time.

They reduce edge loading and make the bearing races stronger, which also tackles separator issues.

Conclusion

Keep Kaydon bearings lasting longer by keeping them well-lubricated, tightening bolts just right, and checking seals often. This care keeps machines running smoothly, reduce costly down time and saves money.

For top-quality bearings other than Kaydon, LILY Bearings is a great choice. They provide reliable and budget-friendly options for a wide range of bearing applications.