The Forklift Bearing Quick Guide

What Is a Forklift Bearing? 

Forklifts, or fork trucks, need a way to move the mast or carriage. This is where the mast guide bearings come in handy. These essential components typically have an outer ring with a thick cross-section performing similarly to a wheel or tire. Their smooth extension allows for a full ascension and descension of the masts into position.

Application

Mast guide bearings are seen in slide-ways, conveying equipment, and in the telescopic mast section of forklifts. In addition to mast guide bearings, forklifts often utilize carriage bearings, side thrust rollers, chain roller bearings, or highly engineered combined bearings.

Common Bearings for Forklifts

At WD Bearings, our experts can help you find the right forklift mast bearings that match your needs. Our wide array of options includes the following:

• Cam followers: These bearings are designed to follow cams or tracks to transfer rotary motion to linear motion.
• Combined roller bearings: A bearing assembly consisting of a mast guide bearing with an integral side thrust roller. These control both the vertical and lateral movement of the mast.
• Track roller bearings: These bearings are designed to support a combination of radial and axial loads. They facilitate movement in some directions while restricting motion in others. The outer diameter is often profiled to match the shape and contours of the contact surface.
• Deep groove ball bearings: A deep groove ball bearing accommodates radial loads. They enable high rotational speeds with low friction for low noise and vibration.
• Chain roller bearings: These bearings guide chains through a profiled channel or groove as the forklift masts ascend and descend during operation.
• Mast guide bearings: As forklift masts ascend and descend into position, a mast guide bearing facilitates the smooth extension of each mast stage.
• Spherical plain bearings: These bearings accommodate oscillating or alignment movements. They manage high-frequency vibration and high radial load applications at low speeds.
• Side thrust rollers: A vertical roller guide that prevents bending or twisting during telescopic extension and transfers lateral loads to the mast.
• Carriage bearings: These bearings are along the horizontal rail of the carriage. They allow for side-to-side positioning of the fork attachment.

Seals and Lubrication

Most mast guide bearings are lubricated and sealed to prevent contamination from getting into the rolling elements and raceways. Less frequently, mast guide bearings are shielded or open instead of sealed. Mast guide bearings are maintenance-free under normal operating conditions. However, re-lubrication is recommended for aggressive applications in tough working conditions.

Controlling contamination and lubrication is one of the simplest ways to maximize the performance of any bearing application.

Anatomy of Mast Bearings

Outer Rings

The outer rings of mast guide bearings act as rollers and guides for the carriage in the mast profiles or rails. They are designed to fit the contour of the mast and help prevent misalignment while lifting and lowering the mast. Simply put, the outer ring is used as a wheel directly against a steel mast rail.

Due to the resulting high loads, the outer ring is heavier and thicker than a typical bearing. There are a variety of styles for outer rings which include flat, tapered, those with corner radii, chamfer, flanges, and other designs.

Configuration

In addition to the variety of outer ring profiles, mast guide bearings are available in single-row and double-row configurations.

The Physical Influence of Bearings in Forklifts

In many cases, design engineers only need a few bearing designs to deploy a carriage. The bearings come in countless sizes. Identified by three dimensions, the measurements include the outer diameter (OD), inner diameter (ID), and width. By offering customization, WD Bearings caters to the needs of everyone.