Abstract: A procedure for affixing bearing hoops on the outer surface of a barking drum or an equivalent large diameter drum, the bearing hoops resting on carrier wheels thereunder, by the aid of which the drum is rotated. In this procedure, a drum with an open longitudinal joint gap, the bearing hoops and the carrier wheels are properly placed in mutual register. The invention teaches to proceed in the manner that hollow bearing hoops are used through which a heating fluid, such as hot water, is arranged to flow, that the inner surface of the drum is cooled with a cooling fluid such as cold water, that the drum is loaded mechanically in a direction such as to dilate the longitudinal joint gap, that is, so that the drum is urged against the inner surface of the bearing hoop, that the drum is secured in this position by the aid of wedges pushed into the longitudinal joint, that into the open longitudinal joint of the drum inserts are welded, and that the bearing hoops are then allowed to cool.