Cleaning bearings is a critical part of maintaining machinery efficiency and longevity. Whether you’re working with Sferax linear bearings, PMI linear bearings, or nearly any other type, keeping them clean helps reduce friction, prevent premature wear, and ensure reliable performance. Bearings are essential machine components that either allow free linear movement or control force vectors to restrict motion. In both cases, they are fundamental to the smooth operation of equipment across a wide range of industries.
From the Verb ‘to Bear’
Did you know that the noun ‘bearing’ derives from the verb ‘to bear’? This is in reference to a bearing being a part of machinery that enables one component ‘to support’ or ‘bear’ another.
So how do we go about cleaning bearings to help ensure our machinery stays working at its optimum?
Remove the Bearings
Cleaning bearings requires proper access, which means you’ll first need to remove the bearing from its adjoining parts. This step is crucial to ensure a thorough clean and to avoid damaging either the bearing or surrounding components. This video demonstrates the correct technique for removing bearings from a wheel, helping you prepare the component for effective cleaning and maintenance.
Take the Bearings Apart
Once you have removed them you should then take the bearings apart to ensure you can clean every element of the part. Again the video above recommends using a pick or dental tool to remove the rubber seals from the bearing.
Cleaning Bearings
The bearings should then be put in a lid-tight container full to the top with isopropyl alcohol. Make sure the lid is
securely fastened and then shake the container for at least five minutes to allow the substance to penetrate deep into the bearings.
Or, as Motion and Control NSK advises light oil or kerosene can be used as a cleaning solution.
This process can be repeated until you are happy the bearings are clean.
Rinse the Bearings
After cleaning bearings, they should be given a finishing rinse using clean oil. While immersed in the finishing oil, gently rotate the bearings to ensure all internal surfaces are properly coated.
Allow the bearings to dry thoroughly. Before refitting them into position, place the bearings on a clean cloth or paper towels to air dry. Ensure they are completely dry and free from any debris to maintain optimal performance and prevent contamination during reinstallation.
Inspect for Bearing Wear
When you are cleaning bearings it is the ideal opportunity to check the components for sign of wear. If you detect
any cracks in the inner or outer rings, flaking or the raceway, smearing to the surfaces, discoloration, damage to the seals or evidence of creep on the periphery of the outer ring or the bore, now would be a good time to discard this bearing and replace it with a new one.
From ave chains to amc mecanocaucho anti vibration mounts, crowned tooth gear couplings to Centrex couplings, every industrial component should be regularly cleaned and inspected to ensure it remains in top working condition.
If you require new bearings or other industrial components, get in touch with YB Components and we’ll do our best to locate the industrial part for you.
