Industrial Maintenance Technician how-to
How to Replace a Pillow Block Bearing
Bearing failures are among the most common causes of downtime.
Bearing failures are among the most common causes of downtime. In short: lock; remove; loosen, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Lock out the equipment and verify zero energy.
Remove guards, belts or couplings to access the bearing.
Loosen the set screws or locking collar and unbolt the bearing housing.
Remove the old bearing, then clean and inspect the shaft for wear or burrs.
Slide the new bearing into position without hammering on the bearing itself.
Bolt the housing, align it and tighten the locking device per the manufacturer.
Reinstall guards, lubricate as specified, remove locks and test-run while monitoring temperature and noise.
Safety reminders for industrial maintenance technicians
- Always lock out and verify zero energy before reaching into machinery
- Keep guards in place and replace them after maintenance
- Use NFPA 70E practices when working on electrical equipment
- Wear hearing and eye protection on the plant floor
Key terms
Preventive maintenance (PM) · Predictive maintenance · PLC · Ladder logic · VFD · Hydraulics: see the full industrial maintenance technician glossary.