AFSC News

Tinker Bearing Shop eyes repairs

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Bearing Shop operated by the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group is positioning itself to get back into the business of repairing aircraft bearings.

Tinker's Bearing Shop is a Level 1 operation, in which bearings are cleaned, inspected, measured, packaged and preserved. Repairs are performed in Level 2 shops.

The Bearing Shop in the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex was a Level 2 facility decades ago, until it became cheaper to either replace a worn bearing or send it off-base to be restored, said Warren "Todd" Taylor, acting supervisor of the Bearing Shop.

Times have changed, though, and austerity is the order of the day. Consequently, "We are posturing ourselves to do Level 2 work by procuring the latest high-precision and scientific measurement, process and analysis equipment," said Tai Le, Bearing Shop engineer.

For example, the OC-ALC recently purchased a new honing machine that's designed to remove slight burrs and defects on bearing raceways. The manufacturer sent a representative to Tinker recently to train employees in the Bearing Shop how to use the $1.2 million machine.

"We don't want to do all Level 2 repairs, just the ones that are essential when a quick turnaround is critical," Mr. Le said. "There's a strategic reason for us to develop that capability and maintain mission readiness for our warfighters."

Some main engine bearings are scrapped upon reaching 55 percent of their anticipated lifespan. As an illustration, the TF33 engine bearing has a projected lifecycle of 9,000 hours. "When it hits 5,000 hours of use, we are directed per TO guidelines to condemn it" as a safety precaution, Mr. Taylor said. In comparison, gearbox bearings "will fly so long as they're serviceable," he said. "It is up to the engineers of a particular weapon system to set the requirement and guideline that our shop follows."

All three depots in the Air Force Sustainment Center -- Tinker, Hill and Warner-Robins -- are participating in an Air Force-wide initiative to salvage as many aircraft bearings as possible. Instead of tossing a worn or nicked bearing in the trashcan, perhaps it can be cleaned and repaired with a minimum of effort, and returned to the supply chain.

"We are fully engaged in this initiative," Mr. Le said. "It has the potential to save the Air Force a lot of money, and it could increase the workload for Tinker employees."

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