How to Prevent Overheating in Your Dryer Motors
- andreroy20
- May 1
- 2 min read
In a demanding environment like wood drying kilns, motor overheating can have serious consequences: production shutdowns, mechanical failures, and high maintenance costs. At EBI Electric, we design and maintain dryer motors specifically built to withstand these extreme conditions. Here are our key recommendations to prevent overheating and extend your motor’s lifespan.
1. Choose a Motor Designed for High Temperatures
Our dryer motors are equipped with class H insulation, high-temperature bearings, steel fans, and heat-resistant grease. They are built to run reliably even in dusty, humid, or overheated environments.
2. Grease Bearings with a Precise Procedure
Regular, properly executed greasing is essential to performance. We recommend:
✅ Grease the bearings every 720 hours of use (never exceed 2200 hours without greasing).
✅ Thoroughly clean grease fittings before and after each service.
✅ Grease while the motor is running until excess grease begins to come out of the fittings.
✅ If no grease comes out, check that the fittings are functioning properly.
✅ Never over-grease: too much grease increases resistance, compresses the lubricant, and can reduce efficiency.
Use a scale to apply the correct amount of grease (complex calcium sulfonate grease – SINTO EP2 or equivalent):
Bearing Type | Quantity (oz / g) |
6200 to 6207 / 6304-6305 | 0.177 oz (5 g) |
6208 to 6210 / 6306-6308 | 0.353 oz (10 g) |
6211 to 6215 / 6309-6310 | 0.530 oz (15 g) |
6216 / 6311-6312 | 0.706 oz (20 g) |
3. Perform Regular Preventive Inspections
Every 6 months:
Check winding resistance and insulation to ground (use multimeter and megger);
Measure resistance between phases (T1 vs T2, T1 vs T3, T2 vs T3);
Inspect bearing condition, axial/radial play, and fan mounting;
Ensure junction box is clean and dry.
Every 12 months:
Ensure fan is clean, undamaged, and vibration-free;
Check motor anchoring and power cable integrity;
Confirm that the junction box is sealed and securely fastened.
Conclusion
Preventing overheating is not just about motor quality—it depends on consistent, careful maintenance. By following these recommendations, you’ll optimize performance and avoid costly unplanned downtime.