Electric motor bearing lubrication frequency and quantity

Relubrication intervals for rolling element bearings

Grease relubrication intervals for normal operating conditions can be read as a function of bearing speed and bore.
This diagram is valid for bearings on horizontal shafts in stationary machines under normal conditions.

Bearing Type
C B A
1.5 2.5 3
10,000 2 2.5
6 1.5 2
4 1.5
10,000
2 10,000
8
1000 6 8
8 4
6

HOURS OF OPERATION
3 6
3 2.5
4 2 4
3 1.5 3
2.5 2.5
2 1000 2

40
60
By Tom Bishop, P.E.

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1.5

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7.5 1.5

120
180
200
EASA Senior Technical Support Specialist

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100 5 1000
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Editor’s Note: PDFs of this article are 60 3 6
50 2.5
available in English and Spanish in the 40 2 4
“Resource Library” of www.easa.com. 30 1.5 3
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l l l l l 15 75 1.5

Considerations for lubrication fre- 10 50 100

quency and quantity for electric motors
(and generators) include the following:
• Is the lubricant grease or oil?
• Is the bearing type sleeve, ball or
roller?
• If it is a ball bearing, is the enclo-
sure open, shielded or sealed?
In this article we will address the
above by breaking them down into the
following categories:
• Grease lubrication frequency and
quantity for ball and roller (roll-
ing element) bearings.
• Oil lubrication frequency and
level (relates to quantity) for ball
and roller bearings.
• Oil lubrication frequency and
level (relates to quantity) for
sleeve bearings.
Since grease lubrication of sleeve
bearings is extremely rare, that topic
is not included in this article. Further,
since sealed bearings cannot be relu-
bricated, that topic also will not be
included in this article.
Grease lubrication frequency
and quantity for ball and roller
(rolling element) bearings
Relubrication intervals
The frequency of relubrication is
application and product specific, de-
100 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1000 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10,000
Scale A: Radial ball
RPM
Scale B: Cylindrical roller
Scale C: Thrust ball and roller
Figure 1. Relubrication intervals for rolling element bearings.
Figure 2. Formulas to calculate grease relubrication quantities.
pending on parameters such as: • Draw a vertical line from the
motor rpm to the curve that
Operating temperature
represents the bearing inside
Motor shaft speed
diameter (in millimeters), or the
Bearing size
next smaller dimension.
Bearing load
• From that point, draw a horizon-
Hours of operation
tal line to intersect the hours of
Environmental conditions/
operation (relubrication interval)
contaminants
for the applicable bearing type.
Vibration levels
Example: Determine the lubrication
If motor manufacturer instructions
frequency of a 6314 bearing operating
are not available, determine the appro-
at 1780 rpm in a normal environment.
priate grease relubrication intervals for
The inside diameter in millimeters of
motors under normal operating condi-
the bearing is 5 times the last 2 digits of
tions using Figure 1. For conditions
the bearing number. Thus the bearing
such as motors with vertical mounting,
ID is 70 mm (5 x 14). Note that there is
belt load or used in hostile environ-
no curve for 70 mm, thus use the curve
ments, reduce the interval determined
for the next smaller size, i.e., 60 mm.
from Figure 1 by 50%. To use Figure 1,
The 60 mm curve intersects with the
do the following:
1750 rpm value at about 11,000 hours
• Find the motor rpm on the
horizontal axis. Continued on Page 2

Copyright © 2019 • www.easa.com • January 2019 1

Electric motor bearing lubrication frequency and quantity
Continued From Page 1

(using column for type A) for a ball
bearing. If the motor was operating in
a hostile environment, the lubrication
interval would be reduced from 11,000
hours to 5,500 hours (0.5 x 11,000). If
the bearing was a cylindrical roller
bearing with the same bore size, such
as an NU214, the lubrication interval
in a normal environment would be
about 9,000 hours (using column for
type B).
Relubrication quantities
Figure 2 provides a guideline for
the grease quantity to be used during
relubrication.
Example: The relubrication quantity
for the 6314 ball bearing will be cal-
culated. The outside diameter is 5.91”
Rolling element bearing
Oil
level
Figure 3. Oil level for rolling element bearings in horizontal motor.
(150 mm) and its width is 1.38” (35 4. If there are no provisions for
mm). The lubricant quantity G is 0.90 grease fittings or pipe plugs, the
fluid ounces (0.11 x 5.91 x 1.38), or 26 bearings are not intended to be
milliliters (0.005 x 150 x 35). relubricated. Thus, it is not recom-
mended to remove end brackets
Lubrication procedure to relubricate bearings.
Ball and roller bearings may be 5. Remove relief drain plug or pres-
lubricated with the motor running sure relief vent fitting.
or stationary. However, stationary 6. If grease is caked inside the relief
with the motor at or near operating hole, clean with a wooden stick
temperature is recommended. or suitable tool. If severe caking
Steps: appears at the relief hole, run the
1. If lubrication must be done with motor until the bearing housing
motor running (not recom- is warm, permitting a free flow of
mended), make certain to observe grease to exit the housing.
all safety precautions. 7. Add the recommended volume of
2. Locate and clean the grease inlet the recommended lubricant using
area. a hand operated grease gun.
3. If equipped 8. Run the motor for one-half hour
with a pipe with relief drain plug removed
Automatic plug, replace it before replacing plug. For
with a grease increased reliability, replace drain
oiler
fitting. For plug with pressure relief vent
increased reli- fitting rated 1 to 5 psi (7 to 35
ability, replace kPA) to continually purge excess
grease (Zerk) grease, and eliminate the one-half
fitting with a hour waiting period for lubricant
shutoff style purge.
fitting hav- 9. Replace the pipe plugs, if appli-
ing a release cable, and wipe off excess grease.
pressure limit Note: Shielded bearings allow for a
of 5 to 20 psi “small” amount of relubrication but
(35 to 140 kPA) with little effect, depending upon the
to help prevent clearance between the inner race and
damage to the
bearing when Continued on Page 3
adding grease.

Running level
inside oil Running
reservoir level inside
Sight glass oil reservoir
Standstill level
Standstill level

Running Running
oil level oil level
inside inside
bearing bearing
chamber chamber

A: Ball bearings B: Roller bearings

Figure 4. Oil level for rolling element bearings in vertical motor.

2 Copyright © 2019 • www.easa.com • January 2019

Electric motor bearing lubrication frequency and quantity
Continued From Page 2
the shield. This clearance varies among
manufacturers from 0.003” to 0.015”
(0.08 to 0.38 mm). Empirical evidence
shows a certain amount of oil from the
lubricant will “find its way” into the
ball area, but the shield will limit the
amount of foreign material that can
enter and cause damage.
Oil lubrication frequency and
level (relates to quantity) for ball
and roller bearings
For horizontal shaft applications,
the oil level should be maintained
at approximately the center of the
lowest rolling element (see Figure 3),
according to the oil gauge, when the
motor is not operating. For vertical
shafts, the standstill oil level should
be maintained at approximately 50%
submergence of the uppermost row
of the rolling elements (see Figure 4).
The interval at which lubricating
oil should be changed varies depend-
ing upon operating conditions, oil
quantity, and type of oil used. In gen-
eral, for oil bath lubrication where the
operating temperature is 50° C (120°
F) or less, oil should be replaced once
a year. When the operating tempera-
ture is between 80° C – 100° C (176°
F – 212° F), oil should be replaced at
least every three months. For critical
equipment, it is advisable that lubri-
cating oil be analyzed at least every
About 1/4 of circumference
or 20% of diameter
of oil ring
Oil Oil
level level
Figure 5. Oil level for sleeve bearings.
Copyright © 2019 • www.easa.com • January 2019
Table 1. Sleeve bearing oil viscosity and lubrication intervals.
Ambient starting and
Shaft speeds ISO Viscosity Lubrication
operating temperature
(rpm) range interval
range °C (°F)
All Consult ---
Below 10° C (50° F)
manufacturer
Above 1800 32 to 68 5000 operat-
ing hours or 1
10° C to 32° C year, whichever
(50° F to 90° F) comes first
Up to 1800 68 to 100 1 year
All Consult ---
Above 32° C (90° F)
manufacturer
three months to determine when oil When replacing the oil, fill the reservoir
replacement is necessary. to the level that’s normally shown on
the sight glass.
Oil lubrication frequency and
level (relates to quantity) for Sleeve bearing oil level
sleeve bearings If oil level information is available
from the motor manufacturer, fol-
The clearance between the shaft
low it. If not, as a general guideline,
journal and the bearing bore is critical
the oil rings should be immersed to
with sleeve bearings. Any short-term,
approximately one-quarter of their
metal-to-metal contact can increase
circumference or 20% of the diameter
the bearing temperature, and the
of the rings (see Figure 5).
associated “wiping” can quickly de-
Too low a stationary level means
grade the bearing, possibly causing
the oil level is dangerously low when
catastrophic failure. To maintain sleeve
some of the oil is in play (in the bear-
bearing clearances, follow the lubrica-
ing, dripping down the inside of the
tion guidelines in Table 1.
chamber, etc.). Too high an oil level
Select relubrication intervals based
means increased friction between oil
on the motor manufacturer's instruc-
and rings. The rings will turn slower,
tions (if available). Otherwise, use the
supplying less oil to the bearing.
intervals provided in Table 1. Frequent
Adding oil with the machine at rest
starting and stopping, damp or dusty
is preferable to when the machine is
environments, extreme temperatures
operating. Overfilling when running
and other severe service conditions
can initiate a siphoning effect of oil
warrant more frequent oil changes than
through the labyrinth passages, thus
shown in Table 1. Contact the motor
leading to chronic oil leakage.
manufacturer regarding oil change
A note about temperature limits
intervals for specific situations, or reg-
that is applicable to ball, roller and
ularly check the oil for contaminants or
sleeve bearings. The suggested bearing
discoloration and replace it as needed.
temperature limit for normal operation
Another way to determine oil replace-
is 80° C (176° F), alarm at 90° C (194° F)
ment intervals is to have a laboratory
and trip at 100° C (212° F). l
analyze oil samples periodically. Tip:
Take oil samples with the motor shut
down to avoid removing too much.
3