Solution
To solve the problem, the expensive and error-prone grooved ball bearings were to be replaced with
plain bearings made of the iglidur G material. All that was needed for this was a modified axis and two placeholders to fill in the cavity created when the ball bearings were eliminated. The smaller circlips used for the axial spacing between the bearings are no longer needed thanks to the change in the axis. The low cost of the changes required makes this solution a very cost-effective one. Since the iglidur plain bearings are lubrication-free, dirt is unable to adhere. The bearings' low moisture absorption means that they are suitable for wet environmental conditions. This extends machine service life and greatly increases availability. The new solution also enables the customer to completely eliminate short maintenance intervals. The mini-excavator's stability and load capacity are greatly improved by the bearings' increased load capacity.