Machinery Lubrication January 2026

When it comes to regreasing bearings, more is not always the better option and actually can be a costly mistake. Overgreasing can lead to high operating temperatures, collapsed seals and in the case of greased electric motors, energy loss and failures.

What does it really take to build a culture of reliability—and why do so many programs stall even when the tools are right? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash is joined by Mike Dwyer to explore how reliability succeeds or fails based on culture, communication, and alignment across an organization.

For more than twenty years, oil analysts examining ammonia refrigeration compressor samples have been staring at the same strange forensic trail: streaks of carbonized lubricant, heat-melted metallic fragments, fractured glass fibers, and debris patterns that made no sense when viewed through the lens of normal mechanical wear...

Rolling-element bearings used in electric motors are at risk for various modes of failure if an incorrect maintenance or lubrication strategy is implemented. These include incorrect lubricant selection, contamination, loss of lubricant and overgreasing. This article discusses several effective strategies to minimize the likelihood of these failure modes.