Hi...After over 15 years of great service in my small grinding shop, the spindle bearings on my Okamoto 12 x 24" surface grinder needed replacement. I sent the spindle out to a spindle repair facility. They changed the bearings and charged me $2500.00. Times turned a little slow and we used the Okamoto probably 8 hours a week. Eighteen months later the bearings went again. I called the same repair facility and they said send it in and they will take a look at it. They called back and said coolant got into the bearings causing failure. They want to charge $2550.00 to fix it again. I raised concern that the machine had little usage and I didn't think the bearings should go that quickly where my Okamoto was used for over 15 years with no problem. He basically told me that new spindles are not like rebuilt ones. He said that the coolant flow was directly on the spindle causing it to get into the bearings. I told him we use guards that came with the machine and coolant was directed to the part on the chuck. I asked him to send it back and he says it's all apart and I would have to pay a fee to put it back together.
Sorry for the long post. Does this see right to you guys? Should the bearings go after only 18 months light use-age? Was the spindle repaired the first time but not sealed correctly? I would like your input. Thanks in advance. Gary
Sorry for the long post. Does this see right to you guys? Should the bearings go after only 18 months light use-age? Was the spindle repaired the first time but not sealed correctly? I would like your input. Thanks in advance. Gary