If bearing temperature rises during operation, what action should be taken to prevent failure?

• A. Continue operation and monitor.
• B. Increase lubrication level immediately without inspection.
• C. Stop and investigate to prevent failure.
• D. Increase load to dissipate heat.

Answer: (C)

A rise in bearing temperature means the bearing is operating under an abnormal condition and at risk of damage. This can be caused by insufficient or contaminated lubrication, misalignment, excessive load, or a worn bearing. If you keep running, heat will continue to buildup, the lubricant film can break down, and the bearing can overheat, seize, or suffer other damage that leads to a failure. Stopping to investigate allows you to identify and correct the root cause before damage occurs, which is how you effectively prevent a failure.

During the stop-and-check, inspect lubricant level and quality, look for contamination or leaks, verify proper seals and mounting, assess alignment and load, and inspect the bearing for wear or damage. Once the issue is found and corrected and temperatures are back within spec, you can resume operation safely.