In most applications of large-diameter Kaydon bearings, the force required to overcome bearing friction, or resistance to rotation, is small compared to that required to overcome the inertia of the mass being supported provided the Kaydon bearing is properly mounted and contains the standard internal clearance. Kaydon bearings include a minimal amount of clearance to minimize the possibility of tight spots resulting from ordinary imperfections in the mounting. A Kaydon slewing ring bearing distorted by out-of-flat or out-of-round mounting surfaces may require an excessive amount of turning torque. The same is true for a bearing mounted on a structure which deflects locally under load. Other primary factors affecting bearing friction include contact angle, separator, seals and lubricant.

For relatively small loads, the Kaydon slewing ring bearing may be rotated manually. However, for applications that involve high loads and torque or where manual rotation is undesirable or impractical, a mechanical means of rotating the bearing and desired mating member can usually be accommodated

Features allowing mechanical rotation of the equipment include gears, sprockets, v-grooves, and timing belt teeth integral to one of the slewing ring bearing rings. The most common solution is to incorporate a gear on one of the slewing ring bearing rings as reflected in various bearing series throughout this catalog. This practice eliminates the need for a separate gear and the additional cost and installation requirements associated with it.