Agricultural machinery relies on quality bearings. These highly specialised mechanical components have different bearing sizes and designs for different applications. Agricultural bearings help reduce friction between moving parts by enabling surfaces to move freely and stay protected. This enhances performance and longevity, ensuring peak performance while boosting efficiency and safety outcomes.
Agricultural bearings ensure farming equipment’s smooth, efficient, and safe operation. This includes tractors, harvesters, ploughs, and irrigation systems.
Bearings designed for agricultural machinery are made for tough conditions and harsh climates. For example, they can handle heavy loads, intense vibrations, and varying temperatures. Many agricultural bearings also provide additional protection, making them ideal for dirt, dust, and moisture environments.
Understanding the different types of farming
To understand more about the different bearings for agricultural equipment, it’s essential to understand more about the types of farming. Australia is a large continent with many types of farming. Changing weather and soil conditions lead to diverse farming opportunities from Bunbury to the Hunter, Tasmania to Queensland.
Common types of farming here include beef, dairy, poultry, fruit, grain, and mixed farming. Many farm environments rely on specific machinery, including specialised agricultural bearings and other components.
Most modern farms use machinery to reduce human labour and optimise production. Various equipment is used across environments to plough fields, build fences, and process crops, among other tasks. Farming machinery is often used to handle heavy loads, such as grain harvesters or livestock transporters.
Other equipment is used to boost efficiency, including high-speed machinery for grain harvesting and vegetable production. Bearings are used in most of this equipment across all agriculture types of farming.
Types of machinery that rely on agricultural bearings to function
Farm machinery depends heavily on agricultural machinery bearings. These components may be small, but they are essential in daily farming. Agricultural bearings are designed to support rotating parts, reduce operating friction, and enhance productivity in various applications. Whenever agricultural machinery involves moving parts, bearings are required for performance and longevity.
Regardless of farm size or output, the following machinery types depend on quality bearings:
The role of agricultural bearings in tractors
Standard on most farms, tractors are incredibly tough and versatile. Modern tractors come in various sizes, and they’re made to handle a wide range of farming tasks. You can use tractors for ploughing, towing, tilling, and powering other equipment.
Bearings are central to how tractors operate, supporting the movement of high-speed components alongside common wheels and axles. Quality tractor bearings help boost power delivery and minimise friction, improving the performance and longevity of engines and load-bearing systems.
The role of agricultural bearings in harvesters
Also known as combine harvesters or simply combines, this equipment is found on farms across Australia. Harvesters are primarily associated with grains and other crops, where they gather, inspect, and grade produce before processing.
Bearings are key to many of these tasks, and you can find them everywhere. Quality bearings support smooth and efficient harvesting in various operating conditions, from the harvesting header to threshing drums and cleaning systems.
The role of agricultural bearings in ploughs
Ploughs are another common feature of Aussie farms. They break and turn soil before planting. This type of equipment has been used in farming practices for centuries, although many advances have been made. Modern ploughs are typically pulled by tractors instead of horses, and they’re tough enough to work in all soil conditions.
Bearings help plough discs or blades rotate smoothly, preventing soil and moisture intrusion and improving the lifespan of farm machinery.
The role of agricultural bearings in irrigation systems
Whenever farming involves crops, irrigation systems and practices are key. Australia is a dry continent with insufficient rainfall in many locations, with farms often relying on irrigation systems. This includes everything from industrial-grade pumps and sprinklers to irrigation lines and other infrastructure.
Bearings support moving parts within these systems, enabling the smooth rotation of impellers and the longevity of pumps and motors, among other parts.
Types of bearings for different agricultural equipment
Bearings are used across the farming landscape. From small items in the warehouse to large machines in the field, they help agricultural machinery to operate smoothly and efficiently. A range of bearing types are used on different types of machinery, with the size and design of each bearing dependent on the final application.
If you want a bearing for agricultural equipment, it’s important to research the functionality and benefits of different designs.
The following three categories represent the vast majority of agricultural bearings found on Australian farms:
Agricultural ball bearings
Ball bearings help reduce friction between rotating parts, minimising heat generation and reducing wear over time. They consist of spherical balls housed between an inner and outer race, and they’re designed to promote low-friction movement.
Agricultural ball bearings are central to wheels and transmission systems and can be found in tractors, harvesters, and other essential farm equipment.
Special bearings for high-load applications
Specialised load bearings are ideal for demanding applications, especially heavy loads and pressures. Various types of bearings are great for high-load applications, for example, spherical roller bearings. They can be found on agricultural ploughs, tilling equipment, and high-volume harvesters.
These bearings are manufactured for their load-bearing capacity and durability, making them ideal for equipment that experiences high operational stress.
Sealed bearings
These bearings are made for dirty environments, which is standard on many Australian farms. The sealed nature of these bearings is designed to keep contaminants out, including dirt, dust, and debris.
Sealed bearings are also ideal for environments with lots of moisture, making them perfect for outdoor agricultural equipment. These bearings can be found in irrigation systems, harvesters, and tractors.
Importance of quality bearings in agricultural equipment
If you want to improve your farm’s productivity, investing in quality agricultural bearings is important. They help your machinery operate more efficiently by reducing friction and providing protection from environmental contaminants. Dirt, dust, and moisture are common in farm environments, but you must keep them away from agricultural equipment.
Besides immediate performance benefits, suitable bearings help reduce downtime and decrease maintenance costs. This can significantly impact over time, supporting business continuity and allowing you to avoid unwanted expenses.
Choosing the right bearing for each farming type
Operating a farm in Australia can be highly challenging. From droughts and floods to changing markets and huge distances, there are many hurdles to overcome. Quality bearings are a significant asset in this difficult environment, allowing you to move and work without surprises. When the correct bearings are installed on the right equipment, your machinery will work properly, and your farm will run much smoother.
When selecting bearings, factor in the following:
- Ball bearings are often designed for wheels and transmission parts, making them ideal for tractors and other farm vehicles.
- Special bearings are tailor-made for heavy and high-volume machinery, including harvesters, tilling gear, and ploughs.
- Sealed bearings can be found on many equipment, including irrigation systems, harvesters, tractors, and farm vehicles.
Want to learn more about bearings for agriculture? Visit Statewide Bearings!
Choosing the right bearings can be difficult, so getting help from the experts is important. We can help you choose the perfect bearings for your farm at Statewide Bearings. We’ve got you covered if you want a bearing for any agricultural industry or equipment type.
Please reach out to our friendly team online or visit us in person to learn more about how specific agricultural bearings suit different machinery types.
