Cool bearing installation tool set

[gizardlizard]

This is a really cool bearing installation tool I bought for work. It’s designed to be able to install bearings over fairly long shafts. You can’t always install bearings with a press. Lots of times, it’s quicker, faster and easier to install on the machine. Although this install is for an electric motor, I just did it for demo purposes. In this case, the bearing is a number 6203. You look that number up on the included chart. The chart shows to use a letter “A” shaft extension with an adapter part number A 17/40. The 17 is for inside diameter and the 40 is outside diameter of the bearing. You then snap the adapter onto the shaft extension. Position the bearing square to the shaft. Then put the adapter squarely on the bearing and using a dead blow hammer, tap the bearing home. The adapter is designed to support both the inner and outer races, but the majority of the force goes to the inner race. From the time we start tearing a motor apart until the motor is completely done, it’s maybe 30 minutes. You can even leave the motor wired if you like, as long as it’s locked out. This kit will install bearings from 10mm ID to 55mm ID. Awesome tool. The tool was from SKF the bearing people.

 

[seber]

I guess I lead a sheltered life. I've never had to press both the inner and outer races at the same time.

 

[Steve_P]

I remember seeing that in the SKF paper catalog years ago.

 

[LXCam]

That would be real handy on a motor repair. What’s the longest and largest diameter shaft it’ll fit over?

 

[gizardlizard]

That would be real handy on a motor repair. What’s the longest and largest diameter shaft it’ll fit over?

It will work on a shaft up to 8 1/2” long with a maximum diameter of 55mm.

 

[Buckgnarly]

They have a seal kit installer in that style, it's also an awesome time saver!

 

[MiteyF]

I spent a few years at a couple motor shops (granted, I was the machinist, so I only installed bearings if we were short handed with mechanics usually), and we were usually doing MUCH larger motors, but... You guys never heard of a bearing heater? If boss man saw somebody beating a brand new bearing onto a rotor, he'd make you trash it and put on another one.

Maybe good for field work?

 

[00 Scrub]

Is there a catalog page or kit PN? This might be useful for transmissions and such

 

[gizardlizard]

I spent a few years at a couple motor shops (granted, I was the machinist, so I only installed bearings if we were short handed with mechanics usually), and we were usually doing MUCH larger motors, but... You guys never heard of a bearing heater? If boss man saw somebody beating a brand new bearing onto a rotor, he'd make you trash it and put on another one.

Maybe good for field work?

That’s what the kit is designed for is field work. The motor was just for demonstration purposes as the thread said. We have used it on large motors that would have taken hours to remove from some equipment. It’s a serious time saver. The kit was designed by SKF. They make bearings. We’ve installed hundreds of bearings with this kit and all are still in use.

 

[Cruzan80]

You guys never heard of a bearing heater?

They are called toaster ovens, get it right ...

 

[gizardlizard]

Is there a catalog page or kit PN? This might be useful for transmissions and such

SKF part number: TMFT 36. Ironically, I was looking for something similar for working on transmissions. I found these by accident and use them for lots of stuff.

 

[MiteyF]

They are called toaster ovens, get it right ...

Presumably a joke that went over my head?

 

[Cruzan80]

Yes, meant it as a joke. Small "oven" to heat up things means "break-room toaster oven" for some job sites.

 

[MiteyF]

In my world of "job site work", it would go further... typically a torch.

 

[Wrench97]

I had a kid try heating up a bearing in microwave once....................

 

[B_Bimmer]

Every time I see one of those skf sets I walk away fast. That's a whole nother category of tools I'd love to start buying but don't want to pay for.

 

[gizardlizard]

Every time I see one of those skf sets I walk away fast. That's a whole nother category of tools I'd love to start buying but don't want to pay for.

Agreed. I’m very fortunate I can buy whatever I need for work. Lots of the specialized tools I buy, work great at home too.

 

[Junkman]

I had a toolbox of one-time-use tools that I bought in the past to do a particular job. I'm glad I bailed out of them a few years ago, when some people still thought they needed them more than I did. A lot easier to keep folded money in your pocket than useless tools in a toolbox.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I scavenged some pieces of rigid aluminum conduit from a salvage yard years ago and use them to bump small bearings like 6203 and such onto a shaft by the inner race when needed. An incandescent light bulb works well as a bearing heater by placing the bearing on top of the bulb for a bit.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I had a toolbox of one-time-use tools that I bought in the past to do a particular job. I'm glad I bailed out of them a few years ago, when some people still thought they needed them more than I did. A lot easier to keep folded money in your pocket than useless tools in a toolbox.

These words you use don't even make sense to me.

 

[maoliz]

Very slick setup—SKF’s on-shaft installation kit is perfect for situations where a press isn’t practical, and matching the 6203’s dimensions to the A 17/40 adapter and “A” shaft extension is exactly how to avoid brinnelling or cocking the Water Pump bearings on the way in. I like that the adapter supports both races while directing most force to the inner race (correct for tight-on-shaft, slip-in-housing installs), and the dead-blow keeps shocks controlled; just remember to flip the load path if the bearing is tight in the housing and slip on the shaft (force through the outer race), and consider a little thermal assist—bearing warmed to ~80 °C and a cool shaft—to reduce drive loads. Lockout/tagout while working wired, check axial seating with a feeler gauge, and spin-test for smoothness; for a 10–55 mm range, this kit makes quick, repeatable bearing installs on motors and long shafts a breeze while keeping the 608ZZ bearings happy.

 

[Schurkey]

SKF TMFT 36 Bearing Fitting Tool Kit, 36 Impact Rings, 3 Impact Sleeves, Dead-Blow Hammer, Carry Case: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

SKF TMFT 36 Bearing Fitting Tool Kit, 36 Impact Rings, 3 Impact Sleeves, Dead-Blow Hammer, Carry Case: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

 

[Rinspeed]

The kit was designed by SKF. They make bearings.

SKF makes some of the highest quality bearings made anywhere in the world. Some are $30-40K a pop. The newest thing is ceramic balls, they are much lighter, stronger and last longer than steel.

 

[gizardlizard]

SKF makes some of the highest quality bearings made anywhere in the world. Some are $30-40K a pop. The newest thing is ceramic balls, they are much lighter, stronger and last longer than steel.

Actually, ceramic bearings have been around a long time. They were invented in the late 60’s and progressively have gotten better. They are some issues with hybrid bearings but overall, they are pretty amazing.

 

[WWheeler]

SKF makes some of the highest quality bearings made anywhere in the world. Some are $30-40K a pop. The newest thing is ceramic balls, they are much lighter, stronger and last longer than steel.

At our shop we routinely get another manufacturer's bearings sent instead when ordering. We order an SKF and get the bearing size we ordered in the SKF box & part number we ordered, but a closer look and it's a *** or Schaeffler or NTN or ... sent instead. When we complained to several manufacturers about it we were told they routinely rely on using competitor same-spec bearings to fill orders between their own production runs. Something they got into some sort of agreement with each other to start doing post-covid to better deal with supply chain issues.

It doesn't matter what brand we order any more as we never know what brand we're actually going to get. As long as it fits, it gets used.

 

[Sumboodie]

I had a kid try heating up a bearing in microwave once....................

Need to wrap in a moist papertowel or rag. Least that's how we did it at one shop. Or use toaster oven.

 

[gizardlizard]

At our shop we routinely get another manufacturer's bearings sent instead when ordering. We order an SKF and get the bearing size we ordered in the SKF box & part number we ordered, but a closer look and it's a *** or Schaeffler or NTN or ... sent instead. When we complained to several manufacturers about it we were told they routinely rely on using competitor same-spec bearings to fill orders between their own production runs. Something they got into some sort of agreement with each other to start doing post-covid to better deal with supply chain issues.

It doesn't matter what brand we order any more as we never know what brand we're actually going to get. As long as it fits, it gets used.

At work, I order bearings from Motion Industries. I tell them what brand I want. If they can’t get them quick enough, I keep picking a different brand until I’m happy. My salesperson would never send me a bearing made in Sri Lanka or India.

 

[Rinspeed]

At our shop we routinely get another manufacturer's bearings sent instead when ordering. We order an SKF and get the bearing size we ordered in the SKF box & part number we ordered, but a closer look and it's a *** or Schaeffler or NTN or ... sent instead. When we complained to several manufacturers about it we were told they routinely rely on using competitor same-spec bearings to fill orders between their own production runs. Something they got into some sort of agreement with each other to start doing post-covid to better deal with supply chain issues.

It doesn't matter what brand we order any more as we never know what brand we're actually going to get. As long as it fits, it gets used.

That doesn't surprise me actually. I would assume you're talking about lower end industrial bearings and I don't think there is a whole lot of profit in them. Even if a bearing is a $60 one it still has to go through 20-30 steps to be a finished product. I always preferred made in Japan Koyo when I need bearings, always high quality and consistent. I know SKF has plants all over the world, I'm sure some of them are lower quality and obviously some manufacturers don't mind sharing inventory. I have two new SKF bearings sitting in my toolbox and they were made in Slovakia, no idea if SKF even has a plant in Slovakia.

 

[HannibalLecter]

Actually, ceramic bearings have been around a long time. They were invented in the late 60’s and progressively have gotten better. They are some issues with hybrid bearings but overall, they are pretty amazing.

They still have limited applications (except for the wankers in the cycling industry lol)
One problem is brinelling, because the balls are a magnitude of order harder than the races (there are however full ceramics but they seem to be even rarer amongst the reputable manufacturers) and also the other problem is the herzian stresses and the ratio between the normal and shear stresses at the contact points. This and the fact they are lighter are the reasons that they are mostly suitable for very high rpm applications (the centrifugal forces won't tear them apart).
Also they are good if electrical insulation is needed,as they are not conductive.