Contamination: How Dirt Beats a Seal — and the Bearing
Contamination: How Dirt Beats a Seal — and the Bearing
Knowledge Center
Everything you need to spec, source, and maintain industrial bearings — in one place. Search the Apollo Bearing Index, read our technical guides and reference charts, and download manufacturer catalogs from the brands we stock.
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Tools & Resources
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98,500+ bearings · 100+ brands
Apollo Bearing Index
Find bearing interchanges and cross-references, decode part numbers, or search by dimensions and equipment.
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Manufacturer Catalogs
Browse product catalogs, interchange guides and reference documents from the brands we stock.
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SKF Size Chart
Speedi Sleeve Size Chart
Find Your Sleeve by Shaft Diameter. Learn how to measure and install your Speedi Sleeve.
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From our blog
Bearing Knowledge & Guides
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Electrical Fluting: How VFDs Eat Motor Bearings
VFDs can put shaft voltage across the grease film until motor deep grooves show washboard EDM fluting. How to spot it, tell it from false brinellin...
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False Brinelling: How Bearings Die Sitting Still
False brinelling frets bearings at standstill from vibration and micro-oscillation. Spares, shipping, and standby assets die before they ever run.
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Overgreasing Kills Bearings Faster Than Running Dry
Packing a bearing full of grease churns heat and blows seals. Fill rules for 2RS vs open housings, and why a grease gun should sometimes stay on th...
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Soft Foot: Why the Laser Says You're Aligned and the Bearing Still Dies
Soft foot bends the frame into a green laser reading and cocks rigid motor bearings. Check each foot first, then align.
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Why You Shouldn't Reuse a Bearing After You Pull It
A pulled bearing that still spins on the bench is already damaged. Scrap it, measure the seats, and Speedi-Sleeve a grooved seal track — a Speedi-S...
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Stop Guessing Alignment: Acoem and SKF Tools We Stock for Shafts, Belts, and Vibration
When to grab Acoem ECO Pro, AT-200, Belt Hog, Bearing Defender, or an SKF TKSA, especially TKSA 51.
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Why Belt Drives Kill Bearings Faster Than Direct Drive (and How to Spec Around It)
Belt tension is a continuous overhung radial load. Same 6208, different life. Spec up, tension to a number, and align the grooves.
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Shaft Fit vs Housing Fit: The Spec That Decides Bearing Life
The ring that rotates relative to the load needs an interference fit. The other ring needs room. Fit decides residual clearance and heat.
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How Ball Bearings Are Made: From Steel Bar to Precision Part
A standard 6204 ball bearing costs less than lunch, yet its raceways are ground to tolerances measured in millionths of a meter — tighter tha...
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SKF Speedi-Sleeve Size Chart: Find Your Sleeve by Shaft Diameter
A leaking seal and a polished groove on the shaft don't have to mean a new shaft or a trip to the machine shop. An SKF Speedi-Sleeve is a thin st...
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Roller Bearings vs Ball Bearings: How to Choose the Right Type
Every rolling bearing does the same job — replacing sliding friction with rolling friction — but ball bearings and roller bearings do it very...
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