There are times when an application calls for a motor to carry a radial load for which sleeve bearings are not suitable. In cases such as low rpm, unusual frames, etc., it may be desirable to convert a customer's existing sleeve bearing motor rather than obtaining a ball/roller replacement motor. This article contains suggested procedures as well as cautions about potential problems with such conversions.

Existen ocasiones en las que una aplicación requiere que un motor soporte una carga radial para la que los cojinetes de deslizamiento no son adecuados. En casos como bajas revoluciones, carcasas inusuales, etc., puede ser conveniente convertir el motor del cliente montado sobre cojinetes de deslizamiento envés de obtener un motor de repuesto con rodamientos de bolas / rodillos. Este artículo contiene procedimientos sugeridos y advertencias sobre problemas potenciales relacionados con dichas conversiones.

When sleeve bearings are rebabbitted or replaced, an important step during assembly is to check the contact between the sleeve bearing and the journal which rides in it. The use of self-aligning sleeve bearings (also called spherical or ball fit) renders this step almost unnecessary. Still, cylindrical sleeve bearings should be inspected to make sure the contact area is sufficient. This article is specific to checking and correcting the wear pattern when installing a new sleeve bearing in an electric motor.

Cuando se rebabitan o se reemplazan cojinetes de deslizamiento, un paso importante durante el montaje consiste en verificar el contacto entre el cojinete y el muñón del eje que monta sobre el. El uso de cojinetes de deslizamiento auto alineables (también denominados esféricos o de ajuste esférico) hace que este paso sea casi innecesario. Aun así, los cojinetes de deslizamiento cilíndricos se deben inspeccionar para verificar que haya suficiente área de contacto. Este es un artículo específico para verificar y corregir el patrón de desgaste al momento de instalar cojinetes nuevos en un motor eléctrico.

There are applications where the end float inherent to a sleeve bearing machine is not desirable, and some means of limiting the axial movement is needed. This is usually accomplished by selecting an appropriate coupling and relying on the driven equipment to prevent axial movement of the motor shaft. 

The gear-hub style of coupling can be end-float limited by installing a “hockey-puck” spacer. The grid-style coupling can be limited by spacers inserted on both sides. 

Regardless of coupling style, unless the driven equipment has some internal means to limit end float, there are circumstances where some external means of preventing axial movement is needed.

“What’s the proper clearance between a shaft and the sleeve bearing it rides in?” Chances are each of us has a rule of thumb for this, probably related to shaft diameter.

Member question: Can you settle a disagreement about the subject of sleeve bearing clearance? We have several contradictory guidelines, some of them from manufacturers. Which is best?

It is fair to say that our outlook on life is colored by experiences. In our industry, those experiences often are shaped by the customers we serve. A good example is this question about the proper clearance between a shaft and the sleeve bearing it rides in. Chances are each of us has a rule of thumb for bearing clearance, probably related to shaft diameter. They can't all be right, yet many of us may have used one of these rules (probably not the same one, either!) with great success. Which one, if any, is correct? The answer depends on the application.

Have you ever repaired a sleeve bearing motor, only to have the customer complain that it leaks oil? Perhaps the motor had a history of oil leaks, and the windings were oil-saturated when you dismantled it. Two-pole machines are especially notorious as chronic oil leakers. The first step toward correcting an oil leak is to identify the cause.