From the life of a handyman who is not afraid of a challenge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of a dozen service companies that were contacted, TPG was the only one capable of carrying out the complex operation of replacing a large bearing in a vacuum filter located in a hard-to-reach area. We knew it wouldn't be an easy task, but since we don't shy away from challenges, we accepted the order and sent Zdenek to replace the large bearing. We were supported in organization and technical expertise by the excellent SKF employees, Marek and Tomáš.

  

Bearing replacement or a maintenance worker as a surgeon?

On an August morning, with a smile on his face, Zdenko arrived at the scene. The machine was humming like an old washing machine spinning bricks instead of laundry. "This is going to be bad," Zdenko called his boss, informing him to reschedule the jobs because he'd be here for a while.

Every bearing replacement begins with shutting down the equipment and securing the work area. For a maintenance worker, safety comes first—the machine must be completely turned off to prevent any injuries. Then comes the disassembly of the old bearing. Sometimes this step is straightforward if the bearing is easily accessible and undamaged. However, more often the bearing is stuck in its housing, corroded, or even broken, meaning the maintenance worker must use specialized tools to remove it.

And that was exactly the case with the bearing removal we’re writing about. When they finally reached the bearing after a long time, it reminded them of an old rusty can that had survived the apocalypse. Alright, this won’t be easy. They pulled out the bearing puller, the ultimate weapon of every maintenance worker. But the bearing didn’t budge.

The following days were spent on cleaning work. The bearing was successfully removed after three days of cleaning and preparatory work. A lot of coffee was consumed, and many work gloves and clothes were changed, but the result was achieved.

    

We can finally begin the installation of the new bearing.

After removing the old bearing, the precise installation of the new one follows. This again requires specialized tools to ensure that the new bearing is properly fitted. The maintenance worker knows that even the slightest inaccuracy can lead to premature failure of the new bearing, so each installation is carried out with careful attention.

The new bearing must be installed correctly, without causing any damage or deformation. During installation, it's important not to forget the use of lubricant, which ensures smooth operation and extends the bearing's lifespan. In some cases, a special heating tool is used to slightly expand the bearing, making it easier to fit onto the shaft.

    

Final adjustments and machine startup

Hooray, on the fifth day the assembly of the spacers has started and the bearing is finally mounted on the shaft. We have been fine-tuning the details for the last few days. We measure and install the bearing housing on the bearing, complete the seals, or rewind the filter and measure the tolerance of the bearing in the housing. After replacing the bearing, the first test follows - starting the machine. This is the moment when it becomes clear if the job was done right. The hour of truth has come, we carefully monitor the operation of the machine - we check whether the vibrations have decreased, whether the machine does not overheat and whether it runs smoothly. Since everything is working, we can breathe a sigh of relief, but at the same time we remain alert for possible fine-tuning.

Changing bearings is a daily task for a maintenance worker, but there is much more to this job than just "replacing the old with the new." It is a combination of skill, patience, technical knowledge and the ability to solve problems under pressure. Bearings, although small and inconspicuous, are a key component of many pieces of equipment, and maintenance workers keep these machines running smoothly.

   

We will be happy to help you with the service as well:

 info@tpg.com