Every bearing has a certain service life potential. However, research has shown that not every bearing achieves it. Important stages which have a major impact on a bearing service life can be recognised during the bearing’s life-cycle. These stages are mounting, lubrication, alignment, basic condition monitoring and dismounting.

The stages in the bearing life-cycle are extremely important for achieving the maximum service life of a bearing. Applying the right maintenance practices and using the correct tools, allows you to considerably extend your bearing’s service life and increase plant productivity and efficiency.

At some point, the bearing will reach the end of its service life and will have to be replaced. Although the bearing might not be used again, removing it correctly reduced the risk of the replacement bearing being compromised during fitting. The use of correct tools and methods will prevent damage to shaft and housings, which are often re-used.

One of the most common ways to dismount small to medium size bearings is to use the basic mechanical puller. Using an SKF puller helps to safeguard against damage to the bearing or to the bearing seating during dismounting. SKF Jaw Pullers allow for easy and safe puller action.

The TMMP series of Standard Jaw Pullers come in a range of five different sizes with two or three arms, with a maximum nominal range of 65 to 300 mm. Strong springs keep the arms apart for easy operation, with a cone system for automatic centering.