Lubricating the bearings in a direct drive compressor

[Rowan Sylvester-Bradley]

I have a 3HP direct drive compressor. As far as I can see there is no provision for lubricating the bearings on the far end of the motor or between the motor and the crankcase. Presumably I can't expect there bearings to last forever without lubrication? How do I lubricate them?

Thank you - Rowan

 

[Moose McAlpine]

They'll be sealed lifetime bearings. You can't lubricate them, only replace them.

Pretty typical for most applications. Not different to a pulley or wheel bearing on a car, they're all sealed.

 

[pedrobedro]

I had mine 15 years and they were still fine when I sold it.

 

[frank horton]

as above....my Atlas Copco must 30+ years old....original pump....
at least they would have used the correct size/loading bearings....

 

[brightspark]

as above....my Atlas Copco must 30+ years old....original pump....
at least they would have used the correct size/loading bearings....View attachment 344508

like the simple tyre bead breaker

 

[Cobbler]

like the simple tyre bead breaker

I was puzzling what that was.

 

[Rowan Sylvester-Bradley]

I hate "sealed for life" things. It just means that the life is much shorter than it should be. It's so environmentally unfriendly to just throw things away because they need lubricating. What's wrong with putting couple of grease nipples on it?

Rant mode off - Rowan

 

[Moose McAlpine]

. What's wrong with putting couple of grease nipples on it?

They chuck the grease out, because they're not sealed, never get greased and then fail.

Sealed bearings generally last a long time. Wheel bearings being a good example. A lot of industrial machinery runs sealed bearings too.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

@8ob likes a greasable bearing, usually on a Timberwolf.