Idle side bearing

[Crossroads]

In just under 2200 hours I'm on my 4th idle side bearing. The first failed at around 400 hours and I replaced it with a bearing from WM. It lasted about another 400 hours. I replaced it with a Koyo and it lasted about 1400 hours. On the bright side, I can change it in less than a half hour now 👍🏻
Sadly, the press I bought to rebuild the drive side bearing assembly is too narrow to fit the band wheel in, so I used a bottle jack and the dump truck as a press to get the new bearing in. 

[ladylake]

  Are you running your tension too high.  I'm on my 3rd bearing in  17000 hours.  Steve

[Bruno of NH]

How do you press the bearings out ?
With a big shop press ?

[Crossroads]

I run at 3200psi which is 200# over recommended, but I wouldn't expect that to be enough to cause damage. The first 2 were Chinese bearing the next 2 have been Japanese bearing. The next time I change one, I'll try a US brand and see if it buys me any more time. 

I don't worry about pressing the bearing out as it's already trashed, so I knock it out with a brass drift and a 4# hammer. 

[ladylake]

 Are you pressing on the outer race when pressing in.  Steve

[Crossroads]

Yeah, I use the old bearing as a press spacer. 

[barbender]

 My mill is a '97, and they had idle side bearings that were way too small. After changing quite a few (which I attributed to the 1.5", .050 and .055 blades I run, I do t think those existed when my mill was built) the bore in my wheel got wallowed out. I redid it once with some Loctite green gap filling compound, when that bearing went I ordered the updated idle side wheel which has a much larger single bearing. That one probably has 500-600 hours on it now. I do have a spare on the shelf😊

[NaySawyer]

If you have a shop press just unbolt the frame and slide the space between the spokes over the frame and press out the bearing.   Only takes a few minutes.

[Cjross73]

Just changed my idle side bearings and the drive side is a bit wobbly so I will swap them out while it's down.  The idle side still had orange paint so I'm guessing it's original '96 with just over 2k hrs. Doesn't look like the drive side has been into but can't be sure.  Does anyone use local pn for the bearings as the ones I got from WM are Chinese and I'd rather avoid those if possible 

[Magicman]

I replaced my idle bearing for the first time in ~2008 (10 years), and the second time in 2021 (13 years), so I am now 2 years on the third bearing in my 20+ years of sawing.  The previous owner and I have collectively logged over 4 million bf on this ole mill.  It is on it's 4th hour meter so there is no way of determining how many hours it has sawn.  I do know that it has worn 4 different engines.

[Crossroads]

If you have a shop press just unbolt the frame and slide the space between the spokes over the frame and press out the bearing.   Only takes a few minutes.

I like that idea! However, the hydraulic bottle Jack and 5 yard dump truck is pretty effective. 
Better pick up the pace Lynn, I'm gaining on ya! 😝

[Magicman]

Come on but I've gotta run now.  I have logs waiting for me this morning.  8)

[Ranger1986]

Good morning  does anyone know what the bearing number is for the idle bearing on the timberking b20  idle beleave it is around a 2007  thanks