7206 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 3.1 single-row ACBB) · extracted 2026-09-26

Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 3.1 single-row ACBB); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.

Cross references & equivalents

Interchange levels: full standard interchange · partial verify parameters · verify manual confirmation required. Links resolve to the equivalent model's specification page where available.

How the 7206 model number is decoded

7206 BEP belongs to SKF's universal single-row angular-contact range — the 30 mm bore entry in the light (7200) series, dimensioned 62 mm OD and 16 mm wide to the same ISO 15 boundary plan as the 6206 deep-groove envelope.Numbering ties the bearing to its envelope: 7206 means angular-contact type 7, light section section 2, 30 mm bore — which is why the 62×16 mm outline swaps dimensionally with a 6206, though the load behaviour does not. The letters mean B = 40° angle, E = enhanced ball complement and race geometry, P = PA66 glass-fibre cage, so this 7206 is the open polymer-caged execution rather than the sealed or brass-cage catalogue variants. The 16.0 mm radial section height ((62−30)/2) and 200 g catalogue mass frame a 30 mm bore bearing rated at 22.5 kN C — roughly 0.75 kN of dynamic capacity per millimetre of bore before application factors. Fit selection follows the rotating ring — interference on a rotating inner ring — and two 7206 units are required to take reversing thrust; keep the induced axial load (0.5·Fr/Y for the 40° angle) inside the rated capacity when calculating the pair.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• On this 30 mm bore, interference and temperature rise consume clearance inside a preloaded pair; calculate the residual clearance after mounting and at operating temperature — an over-tight 7206 pair heats, loses preload control and smears the raceways.
• The 72xx light section at 30 mm bore is the general-purpose angular-contact envelope (62×16 mm); stepping up to a 7306 changes OD, width and heat generation — it is not a drop-in swap when the housing and speed are fixed.
• At the 22.5 kN rating of 7206, preload class changes stiffness by tens of percent but also heat generation; select light preload for the 13,000 r/min speed end and heavier preload only where moment stiffness dominates.
• A single 7206 cannot locate the shaft axially in both directions; mounting it singly on a reversing-thrust shaft leaves one direction uncontrolled — always use a DB or DF matched pair for bidirectional location.
• The 200 g mass and 16 mm width mean locknut and spacer faces must be square to the axis within the bearing's own P0 tolerance; a tilted spacer tilts the contact angle and concentrates load on one shoulder of 7206.
• The 22.5/14.3 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the 7206 BEP execution; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
• SKF lists several executions of 7206 (BEP basic, BECBP universally matchable, BE-2RZP sealed, BECBM brass-cage, ACC-series at 25°); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 7206 BEP designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
• A plain 7206 BEP is a single open bearing, not a universally matchable one; to mount a defined DB/DF pair order the BECBP (CB) execution — pairing two unmatched basic units gives uncontrolled preload because the side faces are not ground for set mounting.