Rolling Bearing Reliability: A Library of 75 PDF Resources
Mounting, Dismounting, Failure Analysis and Lubrication
I assembled 75 PDF resources, grouped into six technical sections, together with eight official publication libraries for finding additional documents. The collection prioritizes bearing manufacturers, lubricant manufacturers and official research repositories.
Compiled: 8 October 2026.
A. Core Handbooks and Engineering Catalogues
These are the foundation of the library: broad references to keep before building more specialized collections.
1. SKF — Bearing Maintenance Handbook
A comprehensive maintenance reference covering storage, handling, mounting, lubrication, inspection, dismounting and bearing damage. One of the first documents I would save for a workshop or training library. Large PDF. SKF
2. Timken — Industrial Bearing Maintenance Manual, 10213
Practical inspection, mounting, fitting, clearance and lubrication guidance across several rolling-bearing types. Particularly useful for developing maintenance procedures and comparing requirements between bearing arrangements. The Timken Company
3. NSK — Bearing Maintenance Guide
Brings together bearing handling, installation, removal, lubrication and damage recognition. A useful second manufacturer perspective when reviewing existing maintenance practices. NSK Global
4. NTN — Care and Maintenance of Bearings, 3017E
Covers inspection during operation, lubrication management, abnormal operating symptoms and bearing damage. Suitable for maintenance technicians and condition-monitoring personnel. NTN Global
5. NTN / NTN-SNR — Rolling Bearings Handbook
Connects bearing fundamentals with practical handling, mounting and lubrication. Useful for technician induction, refresher training and general reference. NTN-SNR
6. NACHI — Bearing Training Manual
A 92-page training-oriented reference explaining rolling-bearing principles and application considerations. The publisher’s address opens a PDF even though it does not end in “.pdf.” Nachi America
7. SKF — Rolling Bearings Catalogue, 17000
The engineering reference for bearing selection, fits, internal clearance, lubrication and operating conditions. Its technical sections are as important as its dimensional tables. SKF Media Hub
8. JTEKT / Koyo — Ball & Roller Bearings: Technical Section
Engineering guidance on fits, clearances, lubrication, shaft and housing requirements, and handling. Useful for cross-checking installation assumptions against another major manufacturer. Catalogue technical section. Koyo Bearings
9. NKE / Fersa — NKE General Catalogue, English/German
Bilingual catalogue with technical sections on lubrication, mounting, dismounting, fits and bearing arrangements. Particularly relevant to your NKE application and replacement reviews. Official indexed PDF; full-file retrieval was not completed. Fersa
10. NBC — Technical Catalogue
NBC reference material covering bearing engineering, handling, mounting and maintenance considerations. Use alongside the exact bearing drawing and application-specific instructions. Official indexed PDF; full-file retrieval was not completed. NBC Bearings
11. RKB — Bearing Catalogue
The RKB catalogue for technical and product cross-referencing. A useful companion when preparing replacement studies involving RKB bearings. Official indexed PDF; full-file retrieval was not completed. RKB Bearings
12. SNR — General Catalogue
Includes general technical characteristics and lubrication-related selection information. Best treated as an additional engineering reference rather than a standalone maintenance or failure-analysis handbook. NTN-SNR
13. Schaeffler — Technical Pocket Guide, STT
A broader mechanical-engineering reference containing bearing-related material. Useful for checking the supporting engineering fundamentals behind a mounting, lubrication or application assessment. Schaeffler
B. Mounting, Dismounting, Fits and Internal Clearance
This section concentrates on preparation, dimensional control, bearing setting and installation methods.
14. Schaeffler — Mounting Handbook, MH1 — download page
The publisher lists the English edition as 194 pages, dated June 2024. Open the official publication page and select Download. A substantial reference for mounting practice. Schaeffler
15. FAG / Schaeffler — Mounting and Dismounting of Rolling Bearings, WL 80 100
A detailed classic covering preparation, mechanical and hydraulic methods, thermal mounting, checking fits and removal. A priority download for developing workshop procedures. Schaeffler
16. NSK — Handling Instructions for Bearings, E9010
Practical handling, mounting, removal and inspection instructions. Useful for reviewing installation practices before a planned bearing replacement. NSK Global
17. NTN — Bearing Handling, 9103E
A compact, seven-page handling guide suitable for pre-job briefings and technician reference. This is a separate short publication—not the full NTN catalogue. NTN Global
18. NTN — Bearing Handling: Catalogue Chapter
A separately downloadable chapter on handling and installation. Useful when a technician needs the relevant instructions without navigating an entire catalogue. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
19. NTN — Bearing Fits: Catalogue Chapter
Guidance on selecting shaft and housing fits. Particularly relevant when reviewing interference, ring creep, fretting and installation-related problems. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
20. NTN — Bearing Internal Clearance and Preload: Catalogue Chapter
Useful for studying internal-clearance and preload requirements, including the relationship between initial clearance, mounting conditions and operation. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
21. NTN — Bearing Tolerances: Catalogue Chapter
Dimensional and running-accuracy tolerances. Useful for preparing inspection sheets and distinguishing bearing manufacturing tolerances from shaft and housing fit requirements. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
22. NTN — Shaft and Housing Design: Catalogue Chapter
A short reference for the components supporting the bearing. Useful when reviewing supporting geometry, shoulders and installation accessibility. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
23. NACHI — Shaft and Housing Fits Poster
A one-page workshop reference. Useful as a quick aid, with final fit selection checked against the actual bearing arrangement and application requirements. Poster PDF. Nachi America
24. Timken — Setting Techniques for Tapered Roller Bearings, 5556
Covers tapered-roller-bearing setting methods, endplay and preload. Particularly valuable where the assembly requires controlled bearing setting rather than simply selecting a clearance class. The Timken Company
25. SKF — Step-by-Step Guide to Optimal Bearing Mounting: Pulp & Paper Practices No. 17
An illustrated practical explanation of the SKF Drive-up Method. Useful for tapered-bore bearing mounting and hydraulic-tool training. SKF Media Hub
26. SKF — SKF Drive-up Method Program: Pulp & Paper Practices No. 18
Explains calculation inputs and their relationship to the mounting arrangement. Importantly, the publication limits its program guidance to the SKF bearings and configurations covered. SKF Media Hub
27. SKF — HMV / HMVC Hydraulic Nuts: Instructions for Use
Equipment-specific instructions for hydraulic nuts, covering preparation, operation and maintenance. Multilingual PDF with English included. SKF Media Hub
28. SKF — Mounting and Dismounting Advice for the SKF Three-Barrier Solution
Focused advice for sealed spherical roller bearings used with protected housing arrangements. Especially relevant to bulk handling and contamination-control applications. SKF Media Hub
29. NTN / NTN-SNR — Sealed Spherical Roller Bearings: Mounting and Re-greasing Recommendations
A focused reference for installing and relubricating sealed spherical roller bearings. Useful when checking procedures that were originally written for open bearings. Multilingual, including English. NTN-SNR
30. NTN-SNR — Maintenance Tools Catalogue
Mechanical, hydraulic and thermal maintenance tools. Useful for selecting a mounting or removal method and identifying the associated equipment. NTN-SNR
31. NACHI — Ball Screw Support Bearings: Assembly Manual
A six-page assembly reference for precision support bearings. Relevant to controlled assembly and preload-sensitive machine-tool applications. Nachi America
32. SKF — Maintenance and Lubrication Products Catalogue, MP3000
Combines mounting and dismounting tools, heating equipment and lubrication products. Useful when translating a maintenance procedure into an equipment and consumables list. SKF Media Hub
33. SKF — Pulp and Paper Practices: Compilation of Issues 1–15
A particularly valuable 168-page compilation. Topics include tapered-bore mounting, C3 versus C4, storage, remanufacturing, dryer-bearing lubrication, contamination, failure-investigation information and tapered-journal geometry. One PDF containing 15 issues; counted once. SKF Media Hub
C. Failure Analysis, Damage Recognition and Electrical Erosion
This section provides both quick visual references and deeper investigation guides.
34. SKF — Bearing Damage and Failure Analysis
A 106-page reference covering raceway patterns, failure-mode classification, troubleshooting, case studies and information collection. One of the most important downloads in this collection. SKF Media Hub
35. Timken — Bearing Damage Analysis with Lubrication Reference Guide, 5892
Illustrated damage identification linked to lubrication and installation issues. Useful for comparing fatigue, contamination, mounting damage, false brinelling and electrical damage. The Timken Company
36. FAG / Schaeffler — Rolling Bearing Damage: Recognition of Damage and Bearing Inspection
A 76-page inspection reference. Particularly useful for examining bearing condition systematically before deciding which mechanisms and operating conditions need further investigation. Schaeffler
37. NSK — Bearing Doctor
NSK’s illustrated troubleshooting and damage-recognition guide. Read alongside the SKF, Timken and FAG publications to compare terminology and descriptions. Large publisher PDF. NSK Global
38. NTN-SNR — Causes of Bearing Failures
Damage examples covering spalling, seizure, indentation, wear, electrical damage, fretting, corrosion and other mechanisms. Useful for structured technician discussions. NTN-SNR
39. NTN — Bearing Damage and Corrective Measures: Catalogue Chapter
A short troubleshooting reference that can be kept with maintenance instructions. Retain a full failure-analysis handbook for more detailed investigations. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
40. NACHI — Bearing Failures: Causes & Cures Poster
A one-page visual reference for common failure modes and corrective actions. Suitable for workshop display or as a training discussion aid. Poster PDF. Nachi America
41. NREL — Failure Atlas for Rolling Bearings in Wind Turbines
An application-specific atlas documenting wind-turbine bearing damage. Valuable for studying cases beyond general troubleshooting guides. Very large PDF; the research browser reached its file-size limit. National Laboratory of the Rockies
42. Schaeffler — Current-Insulating Bearings, TPI 206
Explains electrical-current damage and insulating-bearing solutions. Relevant to motor and generator investigations involving raceway damage and lubricant degradation. Schaeffler
43. NSK — Motion & Control No. 35: Includes “Technologies for Resisting Electrical Erosion in EVs”
Advanced background on electrical-erosion mechanisms and mitigation. This download is the complete technical-journal issue, not a standalone article or mounting manual. NSK Global
D. Lubrication Selection, Relubrication, Delivery and Condition Assessment
These publications address lubricant selection and the practical systems needed to deliver and assess it.
44. Schaeffler — Lubrication of Rolling Bearings, TPI 176
A substantial reference covering lubricant selection, application methods, testing, storage and handling. My first-priority specialist lubrication download in this collection. Schaeffler
45. Schaeffler — Arcanol Rolling Bearing Greases, TPI 168
Grease selection and application guidance tied to the Arcanol range. Useful for evaluating requirements, while recognizing that product recommendations are manufacturer-specific. Schaeffler
46. Klüber Lubrication — Tips and Tricks for the Lubrication of Rolling Bearings
A lubricant-manufacturer perspective on bearing lubrication. Useful for reviewing grease and oil selection and the operating conditions that should drive the specification. Klüber Lubrication
47. Mobil — Guide to Electric Motor Bearing Lubrication
Practical guidance addressing grease characteristics, compatibility, regreasing quantity, frequency and procedures. Particularly useful for auditing electric-motor lubrication routes. Mobil
48. Mobil — Electric Motors: Care and Maintenance
A shorter companion connecting electric-motor maintenance with bearing lubrication. Useful for technician briefings and routine maintenance reviews. Mobil
49. NTN — Lubrication: Catalogue Chapter
A concise technical reference on bearing lubrication. Useful for quick comparison without downloading the complete NTN catalogue. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
50. NTN — Friction and Temperature Rise: Catalogue Chapter
A short engineering reference on bearing friction and heat generation. Useful when reviewing temperature behavior alongside lubricant quantity and operating conditions. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
51. NTN — External Bearing Sealing Devices: Catalogue Chapter
A compact guide to sealing arrangements. Relevant to lubrication reviews involving lubricant retention and contamination exclusion. Catalogue chapter. NTN Global
52. SKF — Grease Test Kit TKGT 1: Instructions
Instructions for field grease-condition assessment using the SKF kit. Useful for developing consistent sampling and screening practices. SKF Media Hub
53. SKF / Lincoln — OLAx-1 Oil+Air Lubrication Unit: Assembly Instructions
Equipment-specific instructions for oil-air delivery, including spindle-bearing applications. Useful for understanding installation, commissioning and maintenance of the lubricant supply system. SKF Media Hub
54. SKF — Bearings with Solid Oil
Explains SKF’s oil-retaining polymer technology and its application considerations. Useful when assessing alternatives to conventional regreasing in difficult environments. SKF Media Hub
55. NSK — Molded-Oil Bearings
Describes NSK’s lubricant-reservoir bearing technology. Useful when comparing application suitability and limitations with other polymer-retained lubricant approaches. NSK Global
56. NTN — Bearings with Solid Grease, 3022E
A six-page explanation of NTN’s solid-grease bearing options and use considerations. Keep it distinct from the SKF and NSK technologies when evaluating alternatives. NTN Global
57. Klüber Lubrication — Low-Noise Bearings: White Paper
A focused discussion of specialty lubricants and bearing noise. Relevant where smooth running and acoustic performance are important selection criteria. Klüber Lubrication
58. NTN Europe — Lubrication: LUB’SOLUTIONS Catalogue
Covers application-specific greases, lubricant delivery and centralized lubrication options. Useful for moving from lubricant selection to implementation of a lubrication system. NTN-SNR
E. Application-Specific Mounting and Lubrication References
These documents place bearing practices in the context of actual machinery and operating environments.
59. SKF — Rolling Bearings and Seals in Electric Motors and Generators
Connects motor-bearing arrangements with fits, lubrication, sealing, mounting, testing and failure correction. A priority application handbook for motor reliability work. SKF Media Hub
60. SKF — Railway Technical Handbook
Railway bearing applications and associated maintenance and damage considerations. Useful specialist reading where axlebox, traction-motor or railway service conditions matter. SKF
61. Timken — Engineering Manual: Metals Industry Edition
Metals-industry bearing engineering, handling and installation guidance. Particularly useful for demanding rolling-mill applications and heavy industrial maintenance reviews. Timken
62. NSK — Roll Neck Bearing Manual
Specialist instructions for roll-neck bearings. Useful for steel-mill bearing maintenance, mounting discipline and application-specific inspection. NSK Global
63. JTEKT / Koyo — Precision Ball & Roller Bearings
Precision-bearing application and assembly considerations, lubrication and damage. Relevant where preload, accuracy and thermal behavior require close control. Koyo Bearings
64. NTN-SNR — Spherical Roller Bearings Catalogue
Spherical-roller-bearing application information, including mounting and lubrication considerations. Useful for large industrial bearings in demanding service. NTN-SNR
65. NTN — Products for the Metals Industry, 8301E
An application catalogue for metals-industry bearings and related technologies. Supplementary context for mill-specific bearing and lubrication challenges. NTN Global
66. NTN-SNR — SNCD Large Plummer Block Housings
Housing-specific guidance covering initial grease filling, lubrication points, replenishment and grease replacement. Particularly useful for checking assumptions about housing fill quantities. NTN-SNR
67. NTN Europe — Ball Bearing Units: Technical Handbook
Technical reference for housed ball-bearing units. Useful supplementary reading for unit applications rather than loose-bearing arrangements alone. Official indexed PDF; full-file retrieval was not completed. NTN-SNR
68. NSK — Bearings for Construction Machinery
Application background for bearings exposed to construction-equipment operating conditions. A supplementary catalogue—not a substitute for machine-specific maintenance instructions. NSK Global
F. Advanced Research: White-Etching Cracks, Contact Lubrication and Surface Engineering
These are research and technical-development references, rather than general workshop instructions.
69. SKF — White Etching Cracks: A Consequence, Not a Root Cause of Bearing Failure
SKF’s technical interpretation of white-etching-crack damage. Read it as a research position and compare it with independent test reports—not as a universally applicable conclusion. SKF Media Hub
70. NREL / Argonne — Investigation of Bearing Axial Cracking: Benchtop and Full-Scale Test Results
Examines axial cracking through tribological testing and full-scale gearbox work. The opened report is revised January 2019 and includes an errata section. nlr.gov
71. NREL — WhiteWind: White Etching Crack Bearing Failures in Wind Turbines—CRADA Final Report
A research-project report on white-etching-crack investigations, operating-data requirements and modelling. Useful for tracing the evidence and research questions behind proposed mechanisms. NLR Publications
72. NREL — Wind Turbine Drivetrain Reliability Research: Gearbox Bearing Axial Cracking Failure Mode Example
A 40-page research presentation connecting drivetrain operation, bearing loading and damage investigation. Useful for advanced teaching; not a maintenance manual. nlr.gov
73. NASA — Lubrication and Performance of High-Speed Rolling-Element Bearings, TM 86958
Foundational research on high-speed bearings, oil jets, under-race lubrication and thermal management. Read within its aircraft-engine research context and publication date. NASA Technical Reports Server
74. NASA / Hamrock and Dowson — Minimum Film Thickness in Elliptical Contacts for Different Regimes of Fluid-Film Lubrication, TP 1342
A foundational treatment of film thickness and lubrication regimes in elliptical contacts. Relevant to advanced understanding of elastohydrodynamic lubrication—not a workshop regreasing instruction. NASA Technical Reports Server
75. Schaeffler — Surface Technology, TPI 186
Surface-engineering and coating options relevant to bearing performance. Useful when evaluating protective approaches for demanding tribological or electrical operating conditions. Schaeffler
G. Eight Official Libraries for Finding Additional PDFs
These are publication portals, not additional individual PDFs. They also provide recovery routes when a manufacturer changes a direct file address.
| Publisher | Official library | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Schaeffler / FAG / INA | Media library | Follow the country-site links for industrial catalogues, mounting instructions and technical product information. Schaeffler |
| Timken | Resource library | Maintenance manuals, setting methods, mounted-bearing catalogues and application references. The Timken Company |
| NSK | Catalogues and CAD | Search E9003, E9010, E9001, E728 and E1103 for handling, maintenance and engineering references. NSK Global |
| NTN | Ball and Roller Bearings: chapter downloads | Additional chapters on load, life, bearing arrangements, sealing and specific bearing types. NTN Global |
| NTN Europe / NTN-SNR | Documentation centre | Language-specific maintenance, lubrication, mounting and application PDFs. NTN-SNR |
| NACHI | Bearing downloads | Training manuals, assembly instructions, application catalogues and workshop posters. Nachi America |
| RKB | Media library | Official catalogues and technical material; also a fallback for the catalogue above. RKB Bearings |
| NKE / Fersa | Heavy-duty media library | Official catalogue access, including a recovery route for the NKE catalogue. Fersa Heavy Duty |
How I Would Use This Library for Your Technical Work
For mounting and workshop training, start with Nos. 1, 2, 15, 20, 24 and 25. Then add the exact bearing or housing instructions relevant to the job. Avoid transferring numerical hydraulic drive-up values indiscriminately between brands: SKF’s own explanation identifies bearing internal design and mounting configuration as relevant to its calculations. SKF Media Hub
For failure-analysis work, keep Nos. 34–38 together, rather than relying on a single manufacturer’s photographs. Build the investigation around operating history, inspection findings and collected evidence; SKF and Timken both include investigation guidance beyond visual damage recognition. SKF Media Hub
For lubrication engineering, begin with Nos. 44, 46 and 47, then move to the application-specific references. For your motor-bearing work, No. 59 is especially useful; for steel-mill and heavy industrial work, prioritize Nos. 61 and 62. These publications connect lubrication with the actual bearing arrangement and service conditions. Schaeffler
My suggested filing structure is Core Handbooks → Mounting and Clearance → Failure Analysis → Lubrication → Application Guides → Research. After downloading each PDF, rename it with the publisher, document code, title and revision shown inside. The searchable index above retains the same numbering as this article, making it straightforward to download and organize the documents one by one.
