Ultra efficient 4-stroke engines with SKF’s new Rocker Arm Bearing Unit

Designed for use in two and three wheeled vehicle applications, where the trend is to move from 2-stroke to 4-stroke engines, the high performance unit can also be used to increase the efficiency of 4-stroke engines in other sectors, including agriculture, shipping and trucks.

The pre-assembled Rocker Arm Bearing Unit produces significantly lower levels of friction than conventional rocker arm designs helping to extend engine life and reduce service cost. The innovative design of the unit draws on SKF’s expertise in different fields, including bearing, seal and lubrication technologies. This has resulted in a cutting edge design of radial clearance, outer ring crowning profile and an engineered surface pattern to achieve extremely accurate valve timing and far quieter operation.

The new technology has undergone extensive endurance test cycles at customers’ facilities, as well as component validation tests, and has proven to be exceptionally robust and reliable. SKF’s engineers will also work closely with designers at specific manufacturers to retrofit rocker arms of existing designs with an SKF Rocker Arm Bearing Unit or to modify the unit to match new application specification and demands for the ultimate in design flexibility.

Franco Ferro, Director of Electrical and Two Wheeler Business Unit at SKF’s Automotive Division, said, “This new bearing solution is yet another successful step in our strategy to be an innovative partner to the global two and three wheeler industry, through the delivery of ultra energy efficient vehicle performance.”