How to tell if you bearings are going bad?
Today, 02:05 PM
#1
Thread Starter
How to tell if you bearings are going bad?
I have never had a set of bearing go out on me yet. Some of my engines make more "ball bearing" noise on spool down than others. My newer Kingtech is almost silent once the compressor noise drops off.
What should you listen for during operation that lets one know the bearing are due service before something catastrophic happens?
Thanks!
What should you listen for during operation that lets one know the bearing are due service before something catastrophic happens?
Thanks!
Today, 02:24 PM
#2
Dave
what I do is, I rev up my engines for a few seconds to max rpms on the first start of the day, first to make sure it is developing max rpms=max thrust, second to listen to the sound it makes at max rpms, the moment that sounds changes and it sounds like it is vibrating then it is absolutely time to get the bearings change.
The first run of the day maybe the last run for those bearings, I had that happened to a P80 with about 60 hrs, also, knowing the run time on your engine and doing the spinning the compressor with your fingers test may confirm what the max rpms test is showing, when the compressor gets spun with the fingers, the compressor should spin for some time because there is no drag from the wore out bearings.
what I do is, I rev up my engines for a few seconds to max rpms on the first start of the day, first to make sure it is developing max rpms=max thrust, second to listen to the sound it makes at max rpms, the moment that sounds changes and it sounds like it is vibrating then it is absolutely time to get the bearings change.
The first run of the day maybe the last run for those bearings, I had that happened to a P80 with about 60 hrs, also, knowing the run time on your engine and doing the spinning the compressor with your fingers test may confirm what the max rpms test is showing, when the compressor gets spun with the fingers, the compressor should spin for some time because there is no drag from the wore out bearings.
