Bearing Hollow Ball 2

[Buds_Take]

I was reviewing a previous post on odd bearing failures. Someone mentioned they wanted to see an image of a hollow-ball. I wish I had a better image, but I pulled these from an old MRC (now SKF) failure catalog. This failure normally occurs in a "radial preload" failure and normally chalked up to inadequate lubrication. The idea is that their is intermittent interruption of the oil supply. I have read that some believe this is due to oxygen content or inclusions, old catalogs say the exact mechanism is not completely understood. It is known that the hollow ball is not the root cause it is just a symptom. If you have better pictures or samples I'd like to purchase them! Thanks! Search and read Bud's Take.

 

[Buds_Take]

The boss sent me some pictures of the hollow-ball he keeps captive on his desk! Crazy this rolling element, which was a ball is now shaped like a triangle.

 

[charliealphabravo]

Is it obvious that we are looking at the original bearing exterior and not a bearing that has peeled apart and then effectively reformed sort of like a rolly poly--caused by spherical confinement of the cage and race?