Combine harvestor in the field at night cutting corn

April, 2023  |  Reliability  |  

Greater reliability and lower TCO: bearings with long lifetime

Several factors exist which impact the lifetime of bearings. Think about their design, the materials used, the application, the assembly and the environment. Choosing the right bearings for the right application reduces the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

 

As a leading business in the bearings market, SKF offers bearings of many types and designs. Our bearings are manufactured for simple assembly and a long lifetime. Thanks to the technical focus of our Research and Development experts, our product range is constantly broadened and improved. As a result, several bearings options are possible for each application in the agricultural sector.

Quality is the most important factor in product development. Even though SKF bearings are not always the cheapest, the total cost of ownership is not higher than the bearings of other manufacturers, evidenced by their long lifetime. The investment is to be considered on a longer period. What is more, SKF bearings are not equipped with things that are superfluous. What is not needed for a particular application is omitted. Thanks to the higher reliability of our bearings, less unexpected downtime is observed and maintenance intervals can be increased. 

 

Download SKF Agri solutions brochure for more information

 

Which role does the bearing seal play?

In order to use the optimal lifetime of the bearings, choosing the right bearings is a priority requirement. Bearings which are designed for a conveyor belt in a clean environment will only last a short time when used where there is a high risk of contamination from soil, ammonia or crop residues. Consequently, the bearings seal plays a significant role, it represents one of the most essential aspects to increase lifetime.


A good quality seal will prevent dust, contamination and moisture from penetrating the bearing’s rolling surfaces. Therefore, SKF pays much attention to functional seal designs, which are tested thoroughly in our laboratories. The Mudblock- and Agri Hub seals for use in the soil preparation and the MUD11 seal specifically for tractor applications are good examples. 

 

Impact on the lifetime

Machine manufacturers in the agricultural sector conduct thorough tests in the field. The resulting recommendations push SKF to develop new bearings and improve our existing bearings range. The final users, or the mechanisation companies which provide the maintenance, have an important impact on achieving optimal lifetime for the bearings. If bearings need to be regreased, the grease nipple must be cleaned to prevent dirt from getting in the bearings with the grease. One of the pitfalls is the cleaning of the machine or tractor with a high-pressure cleaner. You can, but the beam should not be directly pointed to the bearings. High-pressure water can possibly damage the seal and result in dirt spreading in the bearing. 

 

Three key benefits to remember

Keep up-to-date with SKF's latest Agri products and solutions, sign up to our newsletter!

Maintenance intervals
can be increased

Less unexpected
downtime

Lower Total Cost
of Ownership

Our deep understanding of the agricultural segment together with the widest range of products and solutions designed specifically for Agri are here to support you.