It doesn't take long to learn that smaller bearings need to be handled carefully while being installed and serviced. Technicians know that dirt, grit, foreign objects and other debris can quickly and severely damage an otherwise brand new bearing and drastically shorten its useful life.

These same technicians also know to avoid damaging the bearing through installing it improperly or with too much force or impact.

Unfortunately, sometimes people seem to lose sight of the fact that larger bearings – especially over six inches inside diameter – need the same care in handling and treatment.

Actually, because of their greater size and weight, they need closer attention.

The key point to remember is that despite the fact that a bearing is larger in size, the close tolerances to which it is made are the same as the smaller bearings. All bearings are constructed with the same extreme precision: approximately one-seventh of the width of a human hair or about 0.001 (one-thousandth) inches!

So when less than well-informed people whack that big bearing with a big hammer to drive it up a shaft; or heat it with a cutting torch until it's red hot; or do not set the bearing clearance correctly on a spherical roller bearing; or do not check or measure the shaft fit to the inner race or the fit to the outer race and housing – they are creating an opportunity to come back later, not much later at that, and whack it again to drive it off the shaft so it can be replaced.

This can get to be expensive. There is a better way, of course.

IBT's Industrial Maintenance Technologies Group (IMT) has seen the results of this sort of "maintenance" many times. This is why it's important to consider having our team of experienced technicians help you out. You can have IMT guys handle the installation of all your larger bearings.

We will do it properly, carefully, for a reasonable price and we are confident that you will like our work.

In addition to bearing installation, we also continue to offer a full package of services to balance, align, troubleshoot as well as periodic and preventive maintenance services on rotating equipment and complex mechanical systems.

Our work also includes vibration analysis, infrared thermography, equipment inspection & performance analysis, failure analysis and component repair and overhaul.

In short, with IMT's services your operation will run in optimum condition. If you can think of ways that your facility maintenance could be improved, let me know how we can help.