How Much Grease is Enough

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How Much Grease is Enough?

Noria CorporationTags: bearing lubrication, grease guns

"All of the formal training I've had on the

application of lubricants suggests that for

greasable bearings, one should never pump in

so much grease as to push out the external

seals. However, the instruction manual that

comes with Dodge Type-E bearings states:

Operation in presence of dust, water or

corrosive vapors - Under these conditions the

bearing should contain as much grease as

speed will permit, because a full bearing with

consequent slight leakage is the best

protection against entrance of foreign

material.

Won't this ruin the seal and allow for easier entrance of foreign material? I currently teach

my technicians to add the amount of grease as determined by the SKF formula G = DB/10,

where G is grease in ounces, D is bearing outer diameter, and B is bearing width; or as I've

read in Lube-Tips, one shot per inch of shaft diameter. Is this not enough in dusty

environments?"

Several factors influence the quantity of grease that would go into a bearing at the selected

interval. Critical factors include:

1. Design of the bearing (plain, roller, ball or spherical roller).

2. Type of shield used in the bearing.

3. Size and speed from which to calculate dN values.

4. Viscosity of the lubricant in the grease.

The Dodge Type-E bearing has a shield and lip seal configuration, with an option for an

additional two-stage lip seal. This type of seal, by design, will allow for discharge of grease

without damage at the outer perimeter of the seal. You could consider this a type of shielded

bearing configuration.

A sealed bearing is not designed to be purged. If you apply too much grease too quickly, you

can rupture the seal and compromise the life of the bearing.

If you look closely at the manufacturers guidelines, you should see both general and specific

directions for relubrication, including frequency and quantity for a given speed and load. The

original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parameters are typically the best starting point for

relubrication practices.

The OEM will also suggest that if you have a highly aggressive environment, it may be

necessary to adjust the interval or volume to increase the amount of grease to the bearing.

The SKF formula also provides a good starting point. Again, the calculated value must be

adjusted to accommodate the environment.

The decision to flood or purge a bearing should be taken within the context of bearing

construction, production environment and OEM guidelines. This is rarely a simple question.

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w Much Grease is Enough? http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/28830/grease-is-enough

2 30/05/2012 13:38

How Much Grease is Enough

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