Electrical Motor Bearing Lubrication

Lubricant is the lifeblood of electric motor bearings.

As industry continues to demand higher operating
speed and performance from electric motors and
their bearing components, it becomes increasingly
important for maintenance personnel to stay abreast
of advancements in lubrication technology and to
continue following sound lubrication practices. In
the end, it will be the lubricant and the lubricant
technician that enable electric motors to run reliably
at high speeds in day-to-day operation.

Electric Motor Grease Selection

Key Factors to look at:
1. NLGI Grade 2-3, ISO VG 100-150
2. High drop point > 400ºF min.
3. Low oil bled characteristics
4. Excellent resistance to high
temperature oxidation
5. Good low temperature torque
characteristics
6. Good anti-wear performance but
not EP (causes corrosion in
windings).
Examples are lithium complex or
polyurea thickener greases.
Recently, SKF selected an advanced rust-
inhibiting, polyurea-based grease as the
standard fill for its U.S. electric motor
bearings. Polyurea greases have all the
advantages that is important in the selection
of a right electric motor bearing greases.
Polyurea greases provide superior shear and
oxidation stability. This is particularly
important in motor bearings, making them
more s more suitable vis-à-vis other soap
bases.
With polyurea as a base, a mineral oil grease
can offer high temperature resistance
characteristics, making the use of a synthetic
grease unnecessary. However, where
bearings must continuously operate under
high temperatures as in rolling mills and
furnace areas, a choice of polyurea base with
a synthetic oil would be desirable.
Motor Bearing Regrease Procedures
Most large electric motors are equipped with a
grease fitting and a drain plug. When
relubricating, thoroughly clean the grease
fitting and the area around it to avoid
contaminating the grease. Then pump new
grease into the bearing through the fitting
while allowing the old grease to exit through
the open drain. After injecting the
recommended amount of grease, run the
motor with the drain open until the bearing
has a chance to purge all the excess grease.
When the grease stops exiting the drain, plug
the drain securely.
Although proper relubrication procedures are
now generally standard practice, there is
always the chance for error. When done
improperly, relubrication can introduce solid
or liquid contaminants into a bearing’s cavity,
causing lubricant breakdown or damage to
bearing raceways and rotating elements. Also,
technicians may inadvertently overgrease
bearings, causing a condition called churning.
Churning results in a higher operating
temperature within the bearing and eventually
leads to lubricant breakdown.
Even the lubrication procedure itself can have
unintended consequences. Recently, for
example, technicians at a power plant
relubricated a shielded motor bearing using a
grease gun. The entry of new grease caused
increased pressure inside the bearing and
forced the bearing’s shield into its rolling
elements. Subsequently, the relubricated
bearing failed prematurely
Molykote G-0100 Multi-purpose
motor bearing grease has been
developed to meet the increasing
demands of the industry. It’s a
mineral oil grease thickened by an
urea system that offers a wide
temperature range, low noise
performance, with excellent
corrosion and oxidation preventive
properties.
With a service temperature range of
+338ºF and drop point in excess of
482ºF, the product was tested for the
application for over a decade before
its commercial introduction.
It can extend relubrication intervals
vis-à-vis the conventional greases
used by the industry for electrical
motor bearings, and extend bearing
life by preventing prevent premature
failures.
Along with its high temperature
performance, Molykote G-0100
provides all key requirements that is
required by an electric motor bearing
greases: excellent low torque
characteristics, low oil separation,
high speeds capability (DN value
600000 = bearing avg.dia x rpm). low
evaporation loss, etc.
The product is available in 1 kg and
25 kg packs from Dow Corning.

Molykote® Greases can significantly extend your equipment life and reduce failures. Trusted by all OEMs and Maintenance
Engineers for nearly 60 years now. To know more about Molykote, log onto www.molykote.com or write to Project Sales Corp,
channel partners for Dow Corning’s Molykote products in this region at sales@projectsalescorp.com.