Bearings and cones?

tomstractorsandtoys · Feb 1, 2017

I am working on rebuilding the trans in my John Deere 4020. I am cross referencing some bearings and cones to come up with cheaper sources than Deere and I want all USA bearings.Some times I can save alot more by mixing bearings and cones from different companies,like a Timken bearing and a Bower cone. Is this a bad idea? In one application I can save over $30 on just the cone.Thanks Tom

Mike M · Feb 1, 2017

Good chance if you got them all from Deere they would be from all over and all brands anyhow.

Janicholson · Feb 1, 2017

Cones and races from different manufacturers would not be my choice. In an expensive tear down like that, matched components are a reasonable insurance policy. Japanese and German bearings are also as good as they get. Jim

ed will · Feb 1, 2017

Mike M is exactly right. I bought a bearing in a CAT box but the bearing said Komatsu. I wouldn't mix pieces though. Ed Will Oliver BC wine capital

Butch(OH) · Feb 1, 2017

I would also stay away from mixing manf. A way to save a lot of money with Timkin is to order the cup and cone by a set number instead of the separate part numbers. Often the set is cheaper than the cup alone and sets will cover the vast majority of applications. Problem is you need the list that shows the individual parts and then the set number. I have the sheets from Timkin but no way to post them here.

Tech 7 · Feb 1, 2017

Back in the late 90's I replaced rear axle bearings in a 4320, ordering the parts through the dealership parts dept. Upon opening the boxes, I saw that the bearngs had been made in Russia. Well! I thought that would not have been the case when this tractor was new!

rustred · Feb 1, 2017

i would keep them as matched sets. even though manufacturers have spec's to follow. i definitly would never install a chinese brg. but then japanese is as good as it gets.

K Effective · Feb 1, 2017

I have a friend who works for one of the local bearing houses, so I always give him first shot at all bearings I replace. He tells me the story of the how successful his midget dragster was almost completely because of the higher quality bearings he used. That said, many times the Deere bearings are less expensive than he can get them for me, some times by a LOT. He hates that, but won't quote me a poor quality bearing just to win on price.

pete 23 · Feb 1, 2017

It was not unusual to find different mfg's bearings in tractor final drives and transmissions. That being said, IH changed the specifications of pre load when using MATCHED bearings on rear axles of the 86 series and older tractors. Increased the preload a considerable amount for presumed better bearing life. In a critical internal bearing, I would feel better with matched sets. A front wheel bearing, not so much.

JDEM · Feb 1, 2017

There is no legitimate reason why you cannot mix cups and cones from different makers. I personally do not care what country they come from either. I've been turning wrenches for 60 years and not yet had a "bad" new bearing. I am talking about being machined wrong, or improper alloy or hardness, etc. I just had a brand new Dexter trailer axle fail on me (bearings went up in smoke). It was under warranty. The dealer started blaming Chinese bearings until we found out one race (cup) was left out at the factory. So there was a new Chinese cone against the hub with no race installed in it. I drove 300 miles before it burnt up and that Chinese bearing cone held up just as well as any USA made Bower or Timken would of.

NCWayne · Feb 2, 2017

Between myself and my Dad we've been building transmissions, doing shafts in cranes, rebuilding gear boxes/gear trains in different applications, doing wheel bearings, and many other jobs that utilized bearings, for somewhere around 70 years combined.

In that time there have been multiple instances of having say a Bower cup and a Timken cone, or a Koyo cone and a NTN cup. In all that time we have never had an issue with any of the bearing combinations causing an issue from the smallest wheel bearing to some of those on the crane drums that fit an 8 inch shaft.

Personally I wouldn't use a low quality bearing in anything critical as your asking for problems, but as long as the components are all 'name brand' you shouldn't have any issues mixing them up.

Frank 41 · Feb 2, 2017

Motion Industries is who I deal with. The guy in Bloomington, IL is super with getting you something for a good price and good delivery.

ChrisQ · Feb 2, 2017

I rebuilt the back half of my Moline Jetstar 3 super this winter, I looked up all the bearings and races by number at rockauto.com. I was able to get almost every one of them in timken, for half or less than elsewhere. Total for 14 bearings and 14 races was around $300. This is including the large bull pinion and axle bearings. The box came shipped directly from the timkin wearhouse. Definitely worth doing.

Bearings and cones?

tomstractorsandtoys

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Mike M

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Janicholson

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ed will

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Butch(OH)

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Tech 7

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rustred

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K Effective

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pete 23

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JDEM

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NCWayne

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Frank 41

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ChrisQ

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