Grease packing tool for a bearing assembly

A grease packing tool assembly for a bearing assembly, the grease packing tool assembly comprising:

• a support member including:
• an annular seat for receiving a cage of the bearing assembly,
• an annular ledge for supporting an inner ring of the bearing assembly, and
• an annular passage that is arranged between the annular seat and the annular ledge and is configured to deliver grease between rolling elements of the bearing assembly;
• an alignment member that is configured to contact the inner ring of the bearing assembly to ensure that the cage of the bearing assembly and the inner ring of the bearing assembly are respectively seated in the annular seat and the annular ledge;
• and
• an attachment member that is configured to attach the support member to the alignment member to removably secure the bearing assembly therebetween, wherein the alignment member includes an aperture that is configured to receive an upper portion of the support member.

A method of lubricating a bearing assembly that includes an inner ring, a cage, and a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the inner ring and the cage, the method comprising:

• providing a grease packing tool that has a support member and an alignment member, the support member including:
• an annular seat,
• an annular ledge, and
• an annular passage that is arranged between the annular seat and the annular ledge;
• positioning the bearing assembly between the support member and the alignment member of the grease packing tool such that the cage and the inner ring respectively contact the annular seat and the annular ledge of the support member;
• and
• injecting grease into the annular passage to deliver the grease between the plurality of rolling elements of the bearing assembly,
• wherein the support member further includes:
• an axial passage, and
• a plurality of radial passages extending between the axial passage and the annular passage;
• and
• prior to injecting the grease into the annular passage, the method further comprises:
• securing the support member to a base member, the base member including a channel that fluidly communicates with the axial passage,
• wherein securing the support member to the base member comprises:
• positioning a grease pan between the support member and the base member such that a hole of the grease pan is axially aligned between the axial passage and the channel, and
• securing the support member, the grease pan, and the base member together with one or more fasteners.