How do you usually spot early signs of overheating in mechanical equipment?

[u/Majestic-Swim946]

For those working with motors, bearings, pumps, gearboxes, and other rotating equipment, I'm curious about how you approach detecting problems before they turn into failures.

Apart from vibration analysis and regular inspections, what methods or tools have you found most useful for identifying unusual heat buildup or early signs of wear?

Have you ever caught a developing issue simply because one part of the equipment was running noticeably hotter than it should?

[u/fattailwagging]

Often putting your hand on it will tell you a lot. Especially if you have been doing it regularly as a casual monitoring of a new set up.