What is essential to avoid when installing bearings?

Touching the bearing surface with your fingers is essential to avoid because doing so can introduce contaminants, such as dirt, oils, or moisture, onto the precision surface of the bearing. These contaminants can lead to premature wear or failure of the bearing, which is critical for smooth operation in heavy-duty machinery. Bearings are engineered components that require a clean environment for optimal performance.

While wearing gloves can actually be beneficial to prevent the transfer of oils from your skin to the bearing surface, using excessive lubricant can also cause operational issues such as churning or foaming, and using the wrong tools could damage the bearing during installation. However, the direct interaction with the bearing surface through touching it poses a significant risk to the integrity of the component, making it paramount to avoid.