Timken & IBT

Today's economic conditions mandate reducing operating costs without sacrificing productivity. It is crucial for staying competitive. Success and even survival are at stake.

Timken has an answer to the challenge and they believe they can help you slash lead times and operating costs with bearing repair. Repair can generally save anywhere from 10 percent up to 80 percent of the cost of a new bearing.

This is not an idle promise. Timken has backed up their plan with a $6 million investment in North America bearing repair services. Repaired bearings are processed with the same precision equipment and quality standards as new bearings manufactured by Timken.

Image courtesy of Timken.

Repair is most economical for bearings at least 8 inches OD. Timken repairs most bearing types, including tapered, spherical, cylindrical, ball and thrust – and they accept all manufacturers' brands, and sizes up to 84 inches OD.

Timken has found that certain applications or industries are most likely to benefit from repair or remanufacture. They include, but not limited to: aluminum and steel mills; aggregate and cement equipment; mobile construction vehicles; oil and gas equipment; mining equipment; power generation equipment; pulp and paper mills; rubber and plastics equipment.

To start, Timken evaluates your bearing condition and provide an inspection report and quotation before repair begins. They have found that they can often restore used bearings to original specifications in about one-third the time it takes to purchase new.

Perhaps the most difficult task is determining if and when a bearing needs to be serviced. This evaluation requires much more than a quick visual inspection. Here are some signs to look for when inspecting bearings that may need to be repaired:

• The bearing is nearing suggested life expectancy.
• The bearing has exceeded an operating temperature of 200°F (93°C).
• The bearing has been exposed to excessive vibration.
• The bearing experienced a sudden drop or gain in lubrication.

Paying attention to these details during regular maintenance checks can help you determine if a bearing needs maintenance before it causes unnecessary downtime and expense.

Use the following resources to learn more about Timken's bearing repair and manufacturing: The Value of Bearing Remanufacturing, Bearing Repair White Paper, a Bearing Repair online seminar or ask IBT.