Changing the Open Bearing to Shield Bearing

Only you know if you can, "change the open bearing to shield bearing". We can't tell what the motor type/model/bearing/application/etc etc etc etc is.

Have you not already defined the advantages and disadvantages?

What does your maintenance staff say?

What does your motor manufacturer say?

I feel this is futile................................................................................................

Hire some competent help, you need it.

Has this motor ever been serviced before? Was this bearing ever replaced before? Are you looking at an incorrect bearing replacement from previous service work. Typically, motor bearings have a shield on one side, the side the grease zerk port reaches, and the other side has it's shield intact to prevent this issue you are seeing. You can purchase shielded bearings and remove one side, or purchase it in this state already. Most likely if this motor had the bearing replaced before, an unshielded ball bearing was used incorrectly.

Or someone went crazy with the grease gun, and blew the shielded seal out of the bearing which will still be on the shaft.

Dear sir ( anonymous ) - we are using SKF 6318 bearings and as per manufacturer running hours 8000hr we are replacing the bearing.as per your suggestion we are going to replace with one side shield bearing. Please advice if we change double side bearing what is the disadvantage .

Shielded is not sealed there is a difference. A shielded bearing will also pass grease. Not as much as an open bearing would. It will pass some. Even a sealed bearing will pass grease if over greased. There is not difference between the bearings other then an open bearing having shields or seals on them.

Try to find out the reason for grease going into the motor. I have a number of motors at our site but only for very small motors, we use shielded and sealed bearings which are lubricated for for life. May be due to over greasing , it is going inside. Sealing between shaft and bearing cover is there to prevent grease from going inside. Ensure proper lubrication procedures to prevent such occurreneces.

Usually sealed bearings come with sufficient grease to last its stipulated lifespan used at the specific conditions, that means there would be no greaseing necessary in between. If your motors was using nonsealed type of bearings and a greasing point is available than for some reasons greasing is possible if necessary. If your motor usage condition is such that inbetween greasing is not necessary than it is absolutely safe to replace them with sealed type, I personaly prefer to use sealed type of bearings because they are less messy but take the added risk of bearing failure because the bearings had been over used.

Before you change to a sealed bearing, check with the motor manufacturer. There is a reason that they chose the open bearing in the original motor design. You may end up creating more problems than you already have, especially if you have a motor failure(motors of your size are not inexpensive to replace). If the manufacturer says it is okay, I would ask them for what bearing they recommend.

I had also faced such problem in case of motor for Electric Hoist. One of the reason was that due high ambient temperature the grease will melt and enter motor end shield. You can provided sealed bearing mfd. by the bearing mfr. or you will have to provide an oil seal to stop entry in motor winding.This may need design change in motor body.

I believe some one fiddled with the design. Chekc the history and go back to original. No motor can give this kind of bearing. Also seeems some one over enthusiastically overdoen the greasing.

put the right people and go back to basics.