Mounting of Bearings on

Transmission Shaft
• Designed to withstand heavy loads and to
extend the service life of machinery by
reducing friction and distributing
forces,bearings are very susceptible to shocks
and heavy impacts. Therefore, improper
handling or incorrect mounting and
dismounting can damage the elements of a
bearing, causing excessive noise and vibration
levels, and affecting the bearing rotation.
• For bearings with cylindrical bore, the inner
ring is mounted first. Still, if the bearing is
non-separable, the tighter fit needs to be
mounted first. If the ring is separable, then the
inner ring will be mounted separately.
• For small bearings, meaning bearings with a diameter
under 80 mm, both mechanical (cold) mounting and
hot mounting can be used, but the preferred method is
the mechanical or hydraulic press. For the press fitting
method, a mounting tool is placed on the inner ring,
then the bearing is pressed on the shaft, slowly, until
the side of the inner ring rests against the shaft.
CAUTION: The pressing tool shouldn’t be placed on the
outer ring, as this may damage the bearing. Before
mounting, it’s recommended to apply oil on the shaft
surface, to ensure a smooth insertion.
• Bearings with a diameter of 80-200 mm are
considered medium-sized, and those with a
diameter larger than 200 mm are
considered large. For both these categories,
hot mounting is preferred. Hot mounting of
bearings with a cylindrical bore applies to
small bearings only when a very tight fit is
needed. However, for large bearings, hot
mounting is the preferred method.
• MOUNTING BEARINGS WITH A TAPERED BORE
• Bearings with a tapered bore are mounted on a tapered shaft or on a cylindrical shaft with an
adapter or withdrawal sleeve. This is always done with an interference fit, the degree of
interference being determined by how far the bearing is moved up onto a tapered shaft seat.
Small bearings with a bore diameter lower than 80 mm can be driven up onto the seat using a
bearing fitting tool or a lock nut. For bearings mounted with an adapter sleeve, a hook or impact
spanner should be used, and for those mounted with withdrawal sleeves, a bearing fitting tool or a
nut are the best tools to use.
For medium-size bearings with a tapered bore, the proper bearing mounting tool is the impact
spanner, but the drive-up method and the oil injection method can also be used. The last two
techniques apply also to large-size bearings. For bearings with bore diameters greater than 200
mm, hydraulic nuts are recommended, and where applicable, SKF recommends using shafts and
sleeves with grooves and ducts for the oil injection method.
The installation of large bearings using hydraulic nuts is applicable to tapered shaft seats, adapter
sleeves and withdrawal sleeves. The hydraulic nut is positioned onto a threaded section of the
shaft, or onto the thread of the sleeve, and rests on the inner ring of the bearing or on the shaft.
When oil is pumped into the hydraulic nut, the piston is displaced axially thus the inner ring is
driven up the taper, and mounted safely and accurately.
 BEARING MOUNTING METHODS
OVERVIEW
Mechanical (cold) Hot mounting Hydraulic mounting
mounting / oil injection

Bearing size Small, medium Small, medium, Small, medium,

large large

Seat type Cylindrical, tapered, Tapered, adapter

adapter sleeve, sleeve, withdrawal
Cylindrical
withdrawal sleeve sleeve

Tools used Fitting tool, hook Hot plate induction Hydraulic nut and
spanner, impact heater, hot oil bath pump, drive up
spanner method, oil
injection method
 Before a bearing is ready to be
mounted, operators should confirm:
• Housing and shaft are clean, undamaged, and
dimensionally accurate
• Lubricant is clean and correctly specified
• Necessary tools and equipment are on hand
• Proper safety precautions are in place