If your machines aren’t running, you’re not making money. This is especially true when it comes time to repair or overhaul your machinery, as these tasks often result in costly production downtime while your equipment is offline. 
Bearing replacement is typically an integral part of these unavoidable yet costly activities. Moreover, replacing standard spherical roller bearings is a complicated procedure that involves removing gears or couplings, taking off drives and gearboxes, cutting off the old bearing and, frequently, stripping the line shafting.
Converting to split spherical roller bearings from Schaeffler is one alternative that can significantly reduce maintenance downtime. Split spherical roller bearings include inner ring, outer ring and cage assemblies that are split into halves and held together by bolts. These bearings typically offer high load-carrying capability and compensate for any dynamic misalignment.
Additionally, the internal designs of the split bearings meet the same stringent requirements as traditional solid bearings, thus ensuring the same ruggedness and reliability. As a result, you get all the operational benefits of standard spherical roller bearings—without the maintenance drawbacks—when it’s time to remove and replace them.
Consider the typical steps involved in replacing traditional solid spherical roller bearings:
1. Remove housing cover
2. Support shaft assembly
3. Disconnect drive components
4. Remove shaft assembly from housings
5. Remove drive components from shaft
6. Remove and replace bearings
7. Mount drive components
8. Mount shaft assembly in housings
9. Connect drive components
10. Secure housing cover
Now consider the same task using a split spherical roller bearing:
1. Remove housing cover
2. Support shaft assembly
3. Remove and replace bearings
4. Secure housing cover
Split spherical roller bearings are particularly useful when several bearings are used to support a complex driveshaft, or when the bearing is hard to access. Furthermore, no longer having to disassemble and remove heavy components may eliminate the need for cranes and other expensive lifting equipment. These devices not only add cost and complexity, but also increase the risk of accidents.
Because of this, split spherical bearings are not only potentially safer than their solid counterparts—but they can also reduce your company’s potential exposure to liability, and even more downtime.
It’s important to note that a split spherical roller bearing is a unique precision product. To ensure proper operation, it must be clamped onto a clean, uniform shaft that is within the specified tolerance limits and adequately lubricated. Also, the inner and outer ring halves and roller assemblies are not interchangeable with other bearings, and must be matched according to the markings on the rings during installation.
However, the productivity gains and cost savings from reduced downtime make the split spherical roller bearings a worthwhile investment.
Looking for split spherical roller bearings? Contact your local IBT representative, or visit an IBT branch near you.
