Protecting SKF bearings on antenna masts

At ED1R we use industrial (SKF) bearings on our towers for turning the antennas. The bearings are very affordable and reliable IF you protect them properly. We learned this lesson the hard way. After almost three years in service, I feel confident sharing our solution for adequately protecting the SKF bearings on antenna towers.

How we started

We have used Yaesu GS-065 bearings for almost ten years, which have served well and never failed. Unfortunately, they only support masts with diameters less than 65mm. From 2017 to 2018, we rebuilt our contest station and upgraded the steel masts to larger diameters (up to 76,2mm - 30 inches) with thicker walls. With the diameters well above 65mm we couldn’t use the Yaesu bearings anymore. Luckily, we found rolling bearings from [SKF in various diameters and shapes](https://www.skf.com/uk/products/mounted-bearings/ball-bearing-units/flanged-ball-bearing-units, in industrial quality and affordable pricing.