Idler Inspections

There are several alternatives, some costing pennies right up to thousands. The thousand ones, could be a vibration analyzer or a ultrasound probe. A stethoscope, screw driver or a stick.

The vibration analyzer would be difficult to use at first, as the learning to read the output could take quite a bit of time. The analyzer once mastered, could help predict failures, thus using down time to replace idlers before failure.

The Ultraprobe® allows the operator to listen to the idler's bearings, but it only works on bearings that are on the last legs, unless you are welled trained on what to hear for. The last ones are a step down from the ultra probe, but can be still effective.

Just a plain temperature gun might work, as it doesn't use surrounding landscape to compare readings.