Bearing maintenance guide – optimizing engine performance

In the industry stone crushing and screening, the motor is the core part that helps operate crushing, screening, conveyor and auxiliary systems. However, one of the leading causes of motor failure comes from failure Bearings – main load-bearing component, helps reduce friction and ensures smooth movement of the rotating shaft.

According to statistics, more than 50% motor failures are related to bearings. The most common cause is improper lubrication or contamination. Regular maintenance of bearings not only prolongs motor life. It also helps reduce downtime, optimizes crushing performance and saves operating costs. So how should bearings in crusher motors be maintained to achieve the highest efficiency? Let's find out!

1. Causes of bearing failure in crusher motors

There are many factors that cause bearings in engines to fail quickly, the most common of which include:

Improper lubrication: Using the wrong lubricant or at the wrong frequency will cause the bearing to operate less efficiently, increase friction and lead to rapid wear.

Impurities penetrate : Dust, water or fine particles from the grinding process can enter the bearing, causing wear and damage to the contact surface.

High temperature and overload : The grinding motor operates continuously with a large load, which can easily cause the bearing to heat up quickly, reducing the life of the lubricating oil and increasing the risk of failure.

Improper installation : Bearings that are misaligned, overstressed, or improperly aligned will reduce performance and create unwanted vibration.

👉 Solution : To ensure the bearings in the crusher motor operate stably, businesses need to have regular maintenance schedule, select suitable grease and effective anti-contamination.

2. Motor bearing maintenance schedule according to working conditions

Each crushing and screening system have different working conditions. Therefore, the maintenance frequency also needs to be adjusted accordingly.

🔹 Standard working environment (Operation 8 hours/day, light load, temperature ~40°C)

• Ball Bearings: Maintenance every 6 months
• Cylindrical roller bearings: Maintenance every 4 months

🔹 Harsh working environment. (24/7 operation, heavy load, vibration, temperature 40-50°C, lots of rock dust)

• Ball Bearings: Maintenance every 3 months
• Cylindrical roller bearings: Maintenance every 2 months

🔹 Extremely harsh working environment. (High temperature >50°C, lots of fine dust, strong vibration, heavy load)

• Ball Bearings: Maintenance every 2 months
• Cylindrical roller bearings: Maintenance every 1.5 months

👉 Note: If the engine operates continuously in a dusty or humid environment, you should check the bearings more frequently than the standard maintenance schedule to avoid sudden failure.

3. Choose the right grease – Avoid mistakes that can damage bearings

Choosing the wrong type of grease can significantly reduce bearing life, cause greater friction and lead to rapid failure.

How to choose effective lubricant:

• Follow engine manufacturer's recommendations (see nameplate or manual).
• Avoid mixing different types of grease. Incompatibility can result in a chemical reaction that destroys the lubricant in the bearing.
• Pay attention to viscosity and working temperature. If the grinding motor operates under high temperature conditions, it is necessary to use heat-resistant grease to ensure performance.

🚨 WARNING: Using poor quality or incorrect type of grease can damage the bearing within just a few hours of operation.

4. How to protect bearings from dirt and water

In addition to lubrication problems, contamination from rock dust and water is one of the main causes of bearing failure in crusher motors.

 Solution:

✅ Use specialized dust and water seals such as rubber seals and oil seals. In addition, there are non-contact seals to protect the bearings.
✅ Check and replace the seal periodically to avoid wear or tear of the seal, which allows dust and water to easily enter the bearing.
✅ Install a motor protection cabinet to reduce exposure to dust and moisture.

If done well, the bearing life can be extended 30% than under normal conditions. Proper maintenance of bearings will help increase the life of the crusher motor. Contribute to optimizing operating efficiency, reducing machine downtime and saving repair costs.

✔ Maintain a regular maintenance schedule according to the operating environment of the machine.
✔ Use the right type of grease, avoid mixing incompatible types.
✔ Protect bearings from dirt and water by effective sealing system.

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