Design and Construction of Special Service Tools for Forklift Wheel Bearings Lubrication Using a Pneumatic System

Authors

  • Krisna Hadiyanto Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Jakarta Global University, Depok 16412, Indonesia
  • YKP Saleh Department of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Polytechnic of Kirana, Tangerang, Banten 16914, Indonesia
  • MUZ Priyadi Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Jakarta Global University, Depok 16412, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56904/imejour.v4i1.209

Keywords:

Wheel bearing, Grease lubrication, Pneumatic system, Air pressure, Forklift first

Abstract

Manual lubrication of forklift wheel bearings is still inefficient and inconsistent. This study aims to design and test a pneumatic-based bearing lubrication aid to improve lubrication efficiency and speed. The research method used is experimental, involving tool design and testing with air pressure variations of 2, 3, and 4 bar on bearing types 30306, 32206, and 32207. The observed parameters include lubrication time and the amount of grease supplied. The results show that increasing air pressure shortens lubrication time but reduces the amount of grease delivered. An air pressure of 3 bar is considered the most optimal condition as it provides a balance between lubrication speed and grease adequacy. Therefore, the pneumatic system is proven effective in improving the lubrication performance of forklift wheel bearings

References

[1] S. K. Kamarapu, A. Muniyappa, P. S. Kumar, D. K. Prasad, and B. S. A. Vardhaman, “Experimental investigations to assess surface fatigue failure in rolling contact bearing,” Journal of Engineering Tribology, vol. 239, no. 1, May 2025.

[2] A. Jain, S. Soni, N. Vashishtha, and D. Shekhawat, “Impact of grease physical properties on the friction torque and service life of wheel bearings,” Journal of Engineering Tribology, vol. 238, no. 8, Mar. 2024.

[3] Jialong Yang, Yuhao Zhang, Zongzheng Wang, and Wei Pu, “Research on Mechanical Aging Behavior of Grease in Rolling Bearing,” Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 38, no. 4, 2025, Accessed: May 27, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10033-024-01159-6

[4] S. Tetora, C. Schadow, and D. Bartel, “Influence of Grease Properties on False Brinelling Damage of Rolling Bearings,” Lubricants, vol. 11, no. 7, Jul. 2023, doi: 10.3390/lubricants11070279.

[5] D. Fischer, H. Mues, G. Jacobs, and A. Stratmann, “Effect of over rolling frequency on the film formation in grease lubricated EHD contacts under starved conditions,” Lubricants, vol. 7, no. 2, 2019, doi: 10.3390/lubricants7020019.

[6] X. Li, F. Guo, G. Poll, Y. Fei, and P. Yang, “Grease film evolution in rolling elastohydrodynamic lubrication contacts,” Friction, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 179–190, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1007/s40544-020-0381-4.

[7] X. Jin et al., “Effects of contact path on lubricant distribution and EHL film formation,” Friction, vol. 13, no. 6, Jun. 2025, doi: 10.26599/FRICT.2025.9441026.

[8] X. Zhao, E. Appiah, and H. Tang, “Study on the Magnetic Contact Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane-Based Magnetorheological Elastomer Sealing Materials,” Lubricants, vol. 13, no. 2, Feb. 2025, doi: 10.3390/lubricants13020088.

[9] P. Ghatiga, S. Waghole, and K. Gosavi, “Design And Development Of Automatic Lubrication System,” 2025. [Online]. Available: www.ijcrt.org

[10] W. Zhou, J. Li, and P. Wang, “Effect of Air Pressure on Grease Flow Characteristics in Rolling Bearings,” Tribology Transactions, vol. 64, no. 5, pp. 789–798, 2021, Accessed: May 27, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/10402004.2021.1887654

[11] T. He, Y. Sun, and L. Zhang, “Experimental Investigation of Lubricant Film Formation under Pneumatic Grease Lubrication.,” Lubricants, vol. 8, no. 11, p. 104, 2020, Accessed: May 27, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/8/11/104/pdf

[12] S. Morosi and I. F. Santos, “Active lubrication applied to radial gas journal bearings. Part 1: Modeling,” Tribol. Int., vol. 44, no. 12, pp. 1949–1958, Nov. 2011, doi: 10.1016/j.triboint.2011.08.007.

[13] M. I. Khan, L. Maccioni, and F. Concli, “Investigating Grease Behaviour in Tilted Double-Row Tapered Roller Bearing Installed in Wind Turbine by Developing a Full Scale Multi-Phase CFD Model,” Jun. 11, 2025. doi: 10.5194/wes-2025-97.

[14] D. Shutin, A. Fetisov, M. Litovchenko, A. Rodichev, Y. Kazakov, and L. Savin, “Methodology for Optimal Design of Active Fluid Film Bearings Considering Their Power Losses, Stability and Controllability: Theory and Experiment,” Energies (Basel)., vol. 17, no. 23, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.3390/en17235879.

[15] N. , Gou, K. , Cheng, and D. Huo, “Design and analysis methods for aerostatic bearings: The past, the present, and the future,” Journal of Engineering Tribology, vol. 238, no. 10, pp. 1198–1211, Jun. 2024.

[16] D.-D. Le, V.-H. Pham, and T.-A. Bui, “Computational and Experimental Investigation of Thermal Generation in CNC Milling Machine Spindle Bearing with the Oil-Air Lubrication Method,” Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 12900–12905, Feb. 2024.

[17] M. Michalec et al., “A Novel Geometry Optimization Approach for Multi-Recess Hydrostatic Bearing Pad Operating in Static and low-Speed Conditions Using CFD Simulation,” Tribol. Lett., vol. 71, no. 2, Jun. 2023, doi: 10.1007/s11249-023-01726-3.

[18] X. , S. M. u, X. Yang, L. Li, and Z. Lan, “Investigation on Lubrication Characteristics and Deformation Control of Hydrostatic Bearing Workbench.,” Journal of Engineering Tribology, vol. 231, no. 2, pp. 133–150, Aug. 2025, Accessed: May 27, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1177/13506501241274828

[19] X. Li, F. Guo, G. Poll, Y. Fei, and P. Yang, “Grease film evolution in rolling elastohydrodynamic lubrication contacts,” Friction, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 179–190, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1007/s40544-020-0381-4.

[20] Y. Zhou, R. Bosman, and P. M. Lugt, “An Experimental Study on Film Thickness in a Rolling Bearing for Fresh and Mechanically Aged Lubricating Greases,” Tribology Transactions, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 557–566, Jul. 2019, doi: 10.1080/10402004.2018.1539202.

[21] Y. Zhou and P. M. Lugt, “On the application of the mechanical aging Master Curve for lubricating greases to rolling bearings,” Tribol. Int., vol. 141, p. 105918, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.triboint.2019.105918.

[22] P. M. Lugt, Grease Lubrication in Rolling Bearings. Wiley, 2012. doi: 10.1002/9781118483961.

[23] G. E. Morales-Espejel, P. M. Lugt, H. R. Pasaribu, and H. Cen, “Film thickness in grease lubricated slow rotating rolling bearings,” Tribol. Int., vol. 74, pp. 7–19, Jun. 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.triboint.2014.01.023.

Downloads

Published

29-05-2026

How to Cite

Hadiyanto, K., Saleh, Y. K. P., & Priyadi, M. U. Z. (2026). Design and Construction of Special Service Tools for Forklift Wheel Bearings Lubrication Using a Pneumatic System. Integrated Mechanical Engineering Journal, 4(1), 36–45. https://doi.org/10.56904/imejour.v4i1.209
Views
  • Abstract 7
  • PDF (English) 2
Universitas Global Jakarta