K-9 HANDLER wrote:Huntindog wrote:K-9 HANDLER wrote:Bearing preload is a term sort of like doing an axle flip.... What it says is NOT what it means.
It may have been mentioned but bearing preload also plays a factor in service life. Obviously too loose or too tight is not good.
Had a farm wagon running gear from the 40s with original bearings up till last year. It was a gravity bin wagon which got drug around behind a corn picker for decades. Not alot of miles but hard off road service.
Axle bearings are NOT preloaded. They are adjusted to have a specified amount of FREE PLAY.
When they heat up expansion takes up the free play, so that the bearings operate at zero clearance.
The specified setup clearance can be set with a dial indicator, or by following the EXACT procedure in the axle manual.
Thanks for setting me straight. Timken does discuss "preload" (axial interference) in their manual for setting their tapered roller bearings.
https://www.timken.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/5556_Bearing-Setting-Brochure-1.pdf
Timken on bearing setup wrote:
Generally, the ideal operating bearing setting is near- zero to
maximize bearing life. Most bearings are set with a cold setting
of end play at assembly. This comes as close as possible to the
desired near-zero setting when the unit reaches its stabilized
operating temperature.
Some applications are set with cold preload to increase
rigidity and axial positioning of highly stressed parts that
would otherwise be dramatically affected by excessive
deflection and misalignment.
