Early Detection

Pat

Jack your tractor rear wheels very securely, put tractor in gear about 1/2 throttle. Then go around the tractor with the broom handle. Truly amazing what you will hear. I can't emphasize enough in having the tractor secure, especially if checking some of the higher gears. I use a pallet jack and put a good hardwood pallet with good square blocking under rear end. Tie down straps over axle housings to the pallet make it secure. It's kind of one of those, listen to your tractor once per year items.

There is an instrument made called a shock pulse meter. It works by measuring the vibration caused by imperfections in the internals of a ball or roller bearing. To use the instrument, you must make an initial setting of the bearing diameter and the speed. The meter then reads the shock pulse of the rollers as they pass the imperfection in an inner or outer race. The meter provides a rough reading - red for expect failure very soon, yellow for damage and you got time or green for good condition or longer life expectancy. The instrument is expensive and makes sense to purchase if you are in maintenance in an industrial plant.

• Sheps World

Yep, the railroad(s) have been using heat detectors mounted on stands along the railways to monitor wheel bearings for many, many years now.

The bad guys are usually sensed before they fail.

Allan