Plain Bearing Damage
Plain Bearing Damage
(OP)
We've stopped our eletrical generator for maintainence. It was made a repair using welding. The grabs were put on the main structure of the generator. The repair was made. Then we started up the machine, and there was a failure in the bearing. It looks like the babbit is completely gone because of melting. What could have caused this problem? Is it possible that because of the weld electrical current the babbit material maymelted and then during start up of the machine it could have collapsed?
I would appreciate any help,
thank you
bcruxen
I would appreciate any help,
thank you
bcruxen





RE: Plain Bearing Damage
Blacksmith
RE: Plain Bearing Damage
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: Plain Bearing Damage
thanks in advance!
bcruxen
RE: Plain Bearing Damage
The last time I've seen this was a bearing on a loader arm, lasted about a week before the bearing went bad, you could still see the arc burns on the surface. I get a kick out of people that stick the ground on one end of the machine and start welding at the other, a costly mistake.Mike
RE: Plain Bearing Damage
RE: Plain Bearing Damage
this is more likely to happen when the framework of a building is used as a ground source, millwrights or weldors often overlook a connection between the building and the object they are working on, such as a lift chain or cable connected to a crane used to position the object. a poorly placed ground will fail and the current travels back to the welder via the crane and building structure damaging rolling components.
i have seen machine beds also damaged in the same manner. we always emphasize independent fixed grounds be placed as close to the weld area as physically possible and remove any connection to cranes or machine tools if possible, or the use of nylon lift slings.
once this is explained to the workers, they seem to check themselves and others automatically.
good luck with the training,
bob creely
RE: Plain Bearing Damage
I SUGGEST YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE REST OF THE BEARINGS IN YOUR GEN SET PRIOR TO NEXT START. YOU MAY FIND MORE TO TALK ABOUT! GOOD LUCK.