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Follow these procedures when checking endplay in a
ball bearing machine
May 2000 Number of views: 9343 Article rating: 5.0
Chuck Yung
We rebuilt a 75 HP electric motor recently. It ran fine in the service center, but the customer reported high
bearing temperatures shortly after installing the motor. The bearings failed after only a few hours at full
load.
The first response for most of us is to suspect an alignment problem. But there is another possibility that
should be considered. An electric motor must have room for thermal expansion of the shaft, or bearing life
will be severely reduced.
When a bearing fails, it is often difficult or impossible to determine the original location of the bearing
shoulder. This uncertainty demands a reliable method for determining whether the repaired motor has
adequate provision for thermal expansion. By following some basic steps, the assembly mechanic can
assure that the motor has this room.
With both end brackets installed, and the bearing caps tight, place a dial indicator on the ODE bracket to
measure axial shaft movement. Use a soft-face mallet to tap the shaft towards the DE, zero the indicator,
then tap the shaft towards the ODE. The only movement should be internal play in the bearing.
Next, loosen both bearing caps and move the shaft towards the ODE. The measurement obtained is the
available room for thermal growth of the shaft. There must be room for the shaft to grow thermally
without pre-loading the bearings. (Rule of thumb: Allow at least .010” per foot of shaft length between
bearings.) If the motor has enough allowance for thermal growth, the last step is to verify whether the
bearing caps are preloading the bearings by pulling outwards (tension pre-load.)
To check this, first tighten the DE bearing cap. This pulls the bearing into its normal operating position.
Now zero the indicator, loosen the DE bearing cap and tighten the ODE bearing cap. If the shaft moves,
then the bearing caps are preloading the bearings. If not corrected, one of two things will happen. Either a
bearing will be dislocated from the shoulder, or the bearing L10h life will be decreased. The reduction in
L10h bearing life will be proportional to the amount of pre-load. By way of example, a .040” pre-load can
decrease L10h bearing life to a matter of hours.
Tip: When a stock motor is modified for a direct couple application, the DE roller bearing should be
replaced with a standard ball bearing. Because the roller bearing is held captive, and the ODE bearing
served to locate the shaft, this modification requires that the endplay be corrected. You could assemble
the motor, check the endplay as described above, then dismantle the motor and do the appropriate
machine work, but a good shortcut is to machine 0.020” from the ODE bearing cap face, and machine the
bearing fit of the ODE end bracket 0.040” deeper. This ensures that the bearings will not be preloaded in
either direction. Final endplay checks should still be made as outlined above, but the shortcut virtually
guarantees that the motor will not have to be dismantled for further machine work.
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ANSI/EASA AR100
More information on this topic can be found in ANSI/EASA AR100
Section 8: Bearings
Section 5: Bearings
Section 9: Motor Assembly
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Tests prove Premium Efficiency/IE3 Motors can be rewound without degrading efficiency.
ANSI/EASA AR100-2020
Recommended Practice for the Repair of Rotating Electrical Apparatus
This is a must-have guide to the repair of rotating electrical machines. Its purpose is to establish
recommended practices in each step of the rotating electrical apparatus rewinding and rebuilding
processes.
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