FORKLIFT BEARING

We often witness electrical machines and motors spinning so fast and smooth while not producing any rotary noise. The speed at which they run so smoothly is attributed to the presence of a small component called a bearing. We all know that every motion involves a strong opposing force of friction, which is to be managed successfully for continued motion of that object. However, friction does cause a huge amount of wear and tear, which in the absence of these bearings, will render the machine/ motor useless.

Bearings work on a simple principle: It makes rolling of wheels smooth without any noise or disruption of its fluidity. Forklift wheels can be assumed to have large sized bearings, rolling on roads, enabling the car to move. Bearings, therefore, reduce friction with the help of smooth metallic balls or rollers placed inside a smooth and lubricated metal surface to roll on. These metal balls literally “bear” the load and allow the smooth spinning of the motor.

The creation of these smooth steel balls is an interesting process. A wire of approximately the same diameter as that of the bearing is made to undergo various processes. The ultimate product is smooth shining steel ball with a very high tolerance. The tolerance of the product is measured very precisely during inspection. The Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association (AFBMA) has set particular standards for bearing balls. A grade 3 ball for instance is required to be spherical within 3 millionth of an inch. The process is very similar in nature to the making of air gun pallets and plastic balls used in roll-on deodorants.

Forklift bearings, therefore, are small components that are indispensable, enhancing the movements of the forklift parts and allowing them to move smoothly. There are different kinds of forklift bearings available in the market. The differences are distinguished in their design and the actual purpose of the bearings. To ensure the quality of bearings, they are lubricated internally, making them last for a long period of time.

Bearings, in fact, have to handle two kinds of loads; radial and thrust. Depending on the machine, the bearings are subjected to either of the two loads or both, simultaneously. In an automobile like forklifts by themselves, the bearings used in tires have to face both kinds of loads, radial and thrust. Several types of bearings find their extensive use in a variety of machines. Bearings, therefore, are of various types.

The most common amongst them are ball bearings, which are found in almost everything we come across, starting from inline skates to hard drives. They are designed to cater both radial and thrust loads and are usually meant to handle lighter loads. Another important and widely used type of bearing is roller bearings. They are used in conveyor belts and are capable of handling heavy loads. In this case, the bearing is a cylinder, which is usually subjected to radial loads only.  The use of cylinder increases the contact area between inner and outer surfaces, as it becomes a line instead of point. A variation to roller bearings is a needle bearing, which use very small diameter cylinders to fit in tight slots. Another type is ball thrust bearings, which are usually used in low speed machines and can handle low thrust loads only. Roller thrust bearings are meant to support larger thrust loads and they are often found to be used in gear sets in car transmissions. Tapped roller bearings are designed to handle both large radial and thrust loads. Tapped roller bearings are utilized in cars hubs and they are installed in pairs in opposite directions to handle thrust in both directions.

The bearings can be used on different forklift components including, but not limited to, the steer axle, mast rollers, chain pulleys, slewing bearings and side rollers. The other types of bearings that are used for forklifts includes conical rollers, needle bearings, ball joints, thrust bearings, stainless steel bearings and the chain guide bearings.

An example of highly specialized bearings is magnetic bearings which are used in very high speed devices. Flywheels, for example, use magnetic bearings and run at speeds above 50,000 revolutions per second (rpm). It is a specialized product which creates a magnetic field and helps normal bearings, if operated at such a speed, become susceptible to a meltdown or perhaps explode.

Another interesting type is giant roller bearings. It is believed that these bearings were used in the making of Pyramids in old times by the Egyptians. Round logs were put under heavy stones to roll them to the buildings and that’s how such heavy pieces of stones constituted the great pyramids. The method is still in use when very heavy objects are set to motion.

Despite the fact that bearings are made to roll on by overcoming friction and let a machine revolve smoothly, they are also liable to wear. A worn out bearing will indicate its condition when you hear rotation noise. Friction amongst the metal balls and surface, despite all the preventive measures, causes the bearing to wear out. A worn out bearing usually needs replacement as it cannot be effectively repaired.

In most cases, the bearings are designed primarily for specific brands and models of forklifts and aerial lifts. Therefore, one must correlate the part with the correct mast number, model and specifications of the trucks prior to its purchase. There are some companies, including Solid Lift Parts Inc., that offer oversize mast forklift bearings which are custom-designed and manufactured. Care should be made when maintaining the bearings and the forklift trucks as mud and other dirt can get into the bearings, which could lead to necessary replacements.

Forklift Bearing Photos