The bearing can be made to fit the shaft properly by pressing the bearing onto the adapter sleeve or pressing the withdrawal sleeve into the bearing bore. This requires the application of considerable force at the time of mounting, particularly with larger bearings, due to friction at the mating surface between bearing and sleeve or sleeve and shaft. Adapter sleeves and withdrawal sleeves can be fitted with oil inlet grooves and oil distribution channels to make installation and removal easier.

• Sleeves make it easier to mount bearings with a tapered bore. Bearings with a cylindrical bore no longer have to be shrunk on.
• The position can be changed (even at a later point in time) by using hydraulic assistance to move the adapter sleeve/shaft connection.
• The use of hydraulics facilitates both mounting and dismounting.
• Sleeves can be used to set the bearing play, which can easily be adjusted later using the hydraulics, since the force required for mounting is reduced by the film of oil generated between bearing and sleeve.
• The sleeve can protect the shaft in the event of damage.
• If a shaft has to be refinished, a bearing with a special bore is required. Sleeves represent a cost-effective and quickly available alternative. They offer flexibility, as they can be adapted to suit intermediate shaft sizes when customers require this.
• Extend the service life of the bearing and shaft.
• Reduce downtime costs at their plant.
• Reduce mounting and dismounting costs.

If oil is squeezed through the bores and grooves into the space between the sleeve and bearing or shaft and sleeve, the bearing/sleeve or sleeve/shaft connection works itself loose. Since the interference fit assembly is released abruptly, a nut or stop must be used to restrict the axial movement of the sleeve.

Introducing oil via the bores and grooves between the sleeve and bearing causes a film of oil to form in the joints. This reduces friction between the surfaces and means significantly less force is required during installation. It becomes much easier to slide the bearing onto the taper. The risk of surfaces becoming damaged is also reduced. The oil connection points (which can be used individually) for the inner and outer oil grooves also make it possible to move the combined sleeve/bearing unit following mounting.