How to lubricate a sealed bearing without disassembly
Typically, sealed bearings are simply replaced with new ones, without lubrication or repair. But why buy a new bearing if the old one is fully functional: it has no obvious rolling motion, but simply began to creak or whistle due to the drying out of the lubricant inside the cage.
If you try to remove the protective rings from the bearing, there is a very high probability of damaging them.
In fact, there is enough space between the inner ring and the protective ring to wash out the old grease and pump in new one. As a result, you can simply service the bearing without disassembling it.
Tools and materials
- Vacuum cleaner;
- plunger syringe for lubricant;
- compressor with blow gun;
- screwdriver;
- small vice-clamp;
- any solvent;
- silicone or other lubricant.
Preparing the bearing for lubrication - washing
Before you begin lubrication of the bearing, it must be cleaned of any remaining old lubricant and other contaminants formed during operation. The bearing removed from the machine is placed in a plastic cup and filled with solvent or gasoline.The bearing needs to be thoroughly shaken in the solvent so that all the dirt is washed out.
The washed part is placed in a wooden blank - on one side there is a hole in the blank for a bearing, on the other there is a hole for purging or lubrication.
The bearing hole is closed with a special homemade plug, and the part itself is carefully blown out with a gun connected to a compressor. We repeat washing and purging again, and if necessary, then again, until the bearing rotates easily.
Relubrication with a vacuum cleaner
The prepared and washed bearing is placed in a wooden blank, which is secured in a vice with a clamp. The hole at the top of the part is closed with a plug.
Using a slotted screwdriver, generously apply lubricant to the bearing. A thin hose from a vacuum cleaner is connected to the hole below, the unit turns on and draws the lubricant into the bearing.
The operation is repeated one more time.
Changing lubricant using a plunger syringe
The bearing, prepared and cleaned of dirt, is placed in a wooden blank and plugged on one side with a plug.
Using a plunger syringe connected to the other side of the workpiece, the lubricant is forced into the bearing. You need to fill it until the lubricant begins to protrude from the opposite side of the part.
The bearing is removed, wiped with a cloth and installed in the mechanism from which it was removed.
The most important thing when washing and lubricating old bearings is that the housing of the parts is intact and undamaged, otherwise there is no point in restoring anything, it is better to replace the part with a new one.
