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SKF Y-bearing units for agriculture applications

Discover what you can achieve with SKF Y-bearings – developed specifically for agricultural applications

TRACTOR FOR DRIVE BY WIRE APPLICATIONS

Today’s farmers are under increasing pressure to stay productive for less money, and with less of an environmental impact. But mud, dust, water, sap, straw, stones and more take a heavy toll on the bearings in agricultural applications. Contaminant ingress and lubricant loss from failed seals, as well as locking device problems, often lead to premature bearing failures. These early bearing failures reduce a farm’s output and profitability. For OEMs, premature failures increase warranty costs and can damage customer relationships. SKF agricultural Y-bearing units can prevent such problems for OEMs and end users alike.

The Y-bearings and units assortment includes the ideal solution for each application and specific machine design, making it possible to build more value into the machine design, reduce warranty costs, reduce the number of suppliers – and stay ahead of the competition.

Improve performance and farm productivity

Collection of Y-bearings for Agri
  • Dedicated solutions for agricultural applications
  • Long and reliable component service life
  • High performance sealing solutions – tested and well proven
  • Built in reliability helps extend warranty periods
  • Enhances your brand image on the market

Reduce management cost

  • Reduce warranty cases and associated costs
  • Fewer service engineers in the field and call backs to distributors
  • Wide, dedicated assortment reduces engineering and development time and costs
  • Fewer suppliers for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness

Reduce machine ownership cost

  • Reduce replacement time and repair costs
  • Plug & play unit with fewer components for quick and easy mounting
  • Less unplanned downtime
  • Increase farm productivity and profitability

SKF sealing solutions for agriculture applications

diagram 1

SKF high performance sealing solutions provide proven reliability in tough working environments – helping to reduce ownership costs and enhance farm productivity. Selection guidelines for different sealing solutions under various operating conditions are provided in diagram 1.

5-lip seals
fig. 1
diagram 2

For extremely contaminated environments, such as agricultural applications, SKF recommends Y-bearings equipped with the patented 5-lip seal on both sides (fig. 1).

Testing results

SKF agricultural Y-bearings with the 5-lip seal are subjected to a series of extensive laboratory and field tests (table 1). 

The diagram below provides a service life comparison in mud in % between an SKF Y-bearing with 5-lip seals and two competitor bearing solutions (offered as the most suitable for extremely contaminated environments).

This is an operational testing – the service life in mud is expressed in %.

The results: SKF Y-bearing equipped with the five-lip seal shown a better service life in mud compared with competitor solutions (offered as the most suitable for extremely contaminated environments (diagram 2).

Standard seals
fig. 2
The standard seals for Y-bearings are suitable for medium to high contaminated environments (fig. 2, designation suffix VP274 for bearings with a standard inner ring and no designation suffix for other Y-bearings).
Standard seals with additional flingers (2F)
fig. 3
For more contaminated environments, SKF recommends Y-bearings equipped with a standard seal and an additional plain flinger on both sides (fig. 3, designation suffix 2F).
Multiple seals (2RF)
fig. 4
For very contaminated environments, SKF recommends Y-bearings equipped with the highly effective multiple seal on both sides (fig. 4, designation suffix 2RF).
RS1 seals
fig. 5

Y-bearings with a standard inner ring are equipped as standard with an RS1 seal on both sides (fig. 5, designation suffix 2RS1). These seals are suitable for medium contaminated environments and accommodate the highest speed among the seals available for SKF Y-bearings for agricultural applications.

Y-bearings with a standard inner ring with designation suffix VP274 are equipped with standard seals.

For additional information about the different seal designs, refer to Sealing solutions.

SKF locking methods for agriculture applications

The SKF Y-bearings for agriculture applications are offered with five different locking methods. Combined with the sealing solutions offered, they define a very wide assortment of solutions able to meet all the agricultural application requirements in terms of loads, speeds and environment conditions.
SKF ConCentra locking
fig. 6

This patented method enables true concentric locking on the shaft (fig. 6). It is appropriate for alternating, as well as constant direction of rotation.

For additional information, refer to SKF ConCentra Y-bearings.

Eccentric locking collar
fig. 7

This method is the most commonly used in agriculture applications (fig. 7). Even if the eccentric locking collar is preferably used for applications where the shaft rotates in one direction only, it can be used for alternating directions as well especially when loads and accelerations are low.

For additional information, refer to Y-bearings with an eccentric locking collar.

Grub screws
fig. 8

This locking method is typically used in applications where the shaft alternates direction of rotation (fig. 8). It enables very easy mounting and dismounting, even if space is limited.

For additional information, refer to Y-bearings with grub screws.

Adapter sleeve locking
fig. 9

This method enables concentric locking of the Y-bearing unit on the shaft and is appropriate for alternating as well as constant direction of rotation (fig. 9).

For additional information, refer to Y-bearings with a tapered bore.

Interference fit
fig. 10

The use of an interference fit is only available for Y-bearings in the 17262..-2RS1 and 17263..-2RS1 series (fig. 10). These bearings and the required housings have to be ordered separately. This locking method is recommended for applications where the direction of the load alternates and where smooth running is a key operational parameter.

For additional information, refer to Y-bearings with a standard inner ring.

Additional information

For additional information about the different Y-bearings including their different locking methods, sealing solutions and materials, refer to section Y-bearings (→ Designs and variants, product tables).
For additional information about Y-bearing units depending on the housing shape and material, refer to:
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