| 1 | Bearing Type and Load Direction | Use deep-groove or insert bearings for combined radial and moderate axial loads; use tapered roller bearings where higher combined loads and rigidity are required. | Harvesters, balers, planters, and tillage equipment experience changing radial, axial, shock, and overturning loads. | Compare dynamic load rating C, static load rating C0, and calculated equivalent bearing load. | Critical |
| 2 | Sealing and Contamination Protection | Prefer contact seals such as 2RS or equivalent multi-lip designs for dust, soil, chaff, fertilizer, and wash-down exposure. | Agricultural bearings operate in abrasive environments where contamination is a major cause of raceway and rolling-element damage. | Review seal material, lip geometry, ingress test results, and application-specific contamination ratings. | Critical |
| 3 | Corrosion Resistance | Select suitable stainless steel, coated, or corrosion-protected bearing components when moisture, slurry, chemicals, or coastal conditions are present. | Water, fertilizers, pesticides, and cleaning agents can promote corrosion on rings, rolling elements, and housings. | Check material grade, coating specification, salt-spray or corrosion-test data, and chemical compatibility. | High |
| 4 | Operating Temperature | Confirm the bearing, seal, and grease temperature range; standard nitrile-sealed designs commonly cover approximately −20°C to 100°C, depending on specification. | Near-engine locations, high-speed shafts, and friction-generated heat can accelerate grease degradation and seal hardening. | Compare application temperatures with seal limits, grease operating range, and allowable speed derating. | High |
| 5 | Lubrication and Relubrication | Use an NLGI 2 grease only when compatible with the bearing seals, temperature, speed, water exposure, and load; provide relubrication access where required. | Incorrect grease mixing or over-greasing can increase heat, while under-lubrication can cause premature fatigue and wear. | Verify grease thickener, base oil viscosity, water resistance, compatibility, fill quantity, and service interval. | High |
| 6 | Shaft and Housing Fit | Specify shaft diameter, housing bore, tolerance class, mounting arrangement, and whether the bearing requires an adapter sleeve, eccentric lock, or set screws. | Incorrect fits can cause creep, excessive preload, ring deformation, vibration, or difficult maintenance. | Measure shaft and housing dimensions and compare them with ISO fit recommendations and manufacturer tolerances. | High |
| 7 | Speed Capability | Ensure the reference or limiting speed exceeds the actual shaft speed with an appropriate margin for temperature, lubrication, sealing, and vibration conditions. | Fans, straw choppers, cutter bars, pumps, and threshing systems can operate at elevated rotational speeds. | Compare actual rpm with catalog speed ratings and calculate the speed factor for the selected grease and seal arrangement. | Medium |
| 8 | Shock, Vibration, and Misalignment | Consider spherical outer-ring insert bearings or self-aligning arrangements for moderate housing misalignment; use robust internal geometry for shock-loaded duties. | Uneven terrain, impacts from stones, and flexible frames can produce vibration and angular misalignment. | Review permissible misalignment, static safety factor, vibration limits, and impact-load requirements. | High |
| 9 | Standards, Traceability, and Quality Control | Require dimensional and performance conformity to applicable ISO or equivalent bearing standards, documented inspection, and batch traceability. | Consistent geometry, heat treatment, clearance, and material quality reduce premature failures and simplify replacement sourcing. | Request certificates of conformity, inspection reports, material records, production-batch identification, and dimensional data. | Medium |
| 10 | Service Life, Availability, and Total Cost | Select a bearing with calculated rating life L10 suitable for the duty cycle, supported by reliable spare-part availability and documented maintenance requirements. | Downtime during planting and harvesting is costly; purchase price alone does not represent the total operating cost. | Calculate ISO 281 rating life, compare replacement intervals, evaluate downtime risk, and confirm regional stock support. | Medium |