6038 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6038 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 190 x 290 x 46 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Bore diameter d | 190 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 290 mm |
| Width B | 46 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN / C3 available |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 195 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 216 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 5.85 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 4800 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 3000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 9550 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 6038 |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018) |
| Last verified | 2026-09-24 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018)) · extracted 2026-09-24
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018)); 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.
Dimensions in inches & 6000-series range
| Bore d | 7.48 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 11.417 in |
| Width B | 1.811 in |
| ISO bore code | 38 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 50 mm |
| Smallest bore in 6000-series | 10 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 6000-series | 420 mm |
| Width range across 6000-series | 8–65 mm |
| Bore position in 6000-series (smallest first) | 31 of 35 |
| Bore above smallest 6000-series size | 180 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6038 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; brand-specific OEM equivalents (NSK/FAG/NTN) pending multi-source data. |
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 6038 model number is decoded
In the 6000-series (ISO 15 diameter series 0) the last two digits encode the bore: 6038 carries bore code 38 = 190 mm. Outside diameter 290 mm and width 46 mm come from the ISO 15 boundary-dimensions general plan. With no seal suffix the bearing is open: no shields or seals are fitted and lubrication is supplied by the application. For normal-load mounting with a rotating inner ring on a 190 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a m6 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore — verify against the actual load direction and magnitude.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- industrial fans and blowers
- hoists and winches
- heavy conveyors
- pulp and paper machinery
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- raceway smearing under marginal lubrication at start-up
- edge loading from shaft deflection or housing misalignment
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount this 190 mm bore bearing by heating the inner ring (induction heater, max 120 °C) — never drive it home through the outer ring or balls, that brinells the raceways.
- The 60xx extra-light section at 190 mm bore uses a smaller 290 mm OD than a 6238; load ratings are lower, so do not replace a failed 62-series bearing with a 60-series without re-rating the load.
- The open 6038 has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 190×290×46 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
- Open bearings tolerate the highest speeds in the 6000-series but need a defined regreasing interval; run-to-failure lubrication is the dominant cause of early failure in open 6038 units.
- Deep-groove ball bearings tolerate only minutes of misalignment; if the 290 mm housing cannot be aligned, switch to a self-aligning type rather than shimming 6038.
- The open 6038 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 6038-2Z (shields) and 6038-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 6038.
- The 195/216 kN ratings here are SKF Explorer-class figures from catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018); SKF can revise internal geometry and ratings without changing the designation, so treat the catalogue version and date as part of the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 6038 bearing?
A 6038 deep-groove ball bearing has a 190 mm bore, 290 mm outer diameter and 46 mm width (7.48 × 11.417 × 1.811 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
How does the 6038 bore code work?
The last two digits of 6038 are bore code 38, giving 38 × 5 = 190 mm bore. The 290 mm outside diameter and 46 mm width follow the ISO 15 diameter series, not the bore code alone.
What does no suffix on 6038 mean?
A bare 6038 designation means open: no shields or seals, normal CN radial clearance and P0 normal tolerance unless further suffixes are ordered. The application must supply and retain the lubrication.
How does the 6000 compare with other series at the same 190 mm bore?
The second digit is the diameter series: 60 is the smallest standard section (290×46 mm, 50.0 mm radial section) at 190 mm bore — below 62/63/64 in load capacity, for light loads in compact spaces.
What is the SKF designation and catalogue data for 6038?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 6038 — the open (unsealed) execution, 190×290×46 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 195 kN, C0 216 kN, Pu 5.85 kN, limiting speed 3000 r/min, mass 9550 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH, 2RSL) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 6038.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018) on 2026-09-24. Read our editorial & correction policy.