6056 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6056 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 280 x 420 x 65 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 280 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 420 mm |
| Width B | 65 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 | 302 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 405 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 9.3 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 3000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1900 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 26000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 6056 |
| 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 | 11.024 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 16.535 in |
| Width B | 2.559 in |
| ISO bore code | 56 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 70 mm |
| Smallest bore in 6000-series | 4 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 6000-series | 1150 mm |
| Width range across 6000-series | 4–155 mm |
| Bore position in 6000-series (smallest first) | 42 of 61 |
| Bore above smallest 6000-series size | 276 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6056 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; standard interchange — confirm clearance class and precision with the supplier. |
| 6056-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 280×420×65 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting. |
| 6056-M | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF 6056 M (machined brass cage, open arrangement) is the same-size execution on the 280×420×65 mm envelope with ratings within 10 % — boundary dimensions interchangeable. |
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 6056 model number is decoded
6056 is supplied open, without shields or seals, so the arrangement around it must supply and retain the lubricant. Within the extra-light 60xx section (diameter series 0 of ISO 15), multiplying bore code 56 by five gives the 280 mm bore; the 420 mm outside diameter and 65 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 280 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a m6 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. In the SKF catalogue this open execution carries the bare designation; protected variants are ordered separately as -2Z and -2RSH.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- heavy conveyors
- pulp and paper machinery
- medium and heavy industrial drives
- large gearboxes
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- fretting corrosion on a loose shaft seat
- cage damage from operation beyond the limiting speed
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Large bores like the 280 mm of 6056 demand clean, burr-free seats; one raised burr under a ring this size cocks the bearing and concentrates load at the raceway edge, cutting life drastically.
- Choosing the 60xx extra-light section saves radial space at 280 mm bore, but the trade-off is rating: if the drive sees shock or frequent start-stop cycles, re-check the L10 life against a 6256 before committing to the smaller envelope.
- Storage matters for open bearings: 6056 leaves the factory with rust preventive only, so clean it and apply the service grease at assembly even if the rings look oily from the wrapper.
- 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 6056 units.
- Axial location must clamp the ring face, not the seal area: a shoulder or circlip bearing on the seal side of the 65 mm-wide ring of 6056 drags the lip and overheats it.
- Deep-groove ball bearings tolerate only minutes of misalignment; if the 420 mm housing cannot be aligned, switch to a self-aligning type rather than shimming 6056.
- The open 6056 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 6056-2Z (shields) and 6056-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 6056.
- The 302/405 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 6056 bearing?
A 6056 deep-groove ball bearing has a 280 mm bore, 420 mm outer diameter and 65 mm width (11.024 × 16.535 × 2.559 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
How should 6056 be mounted?
Apply the mounting force to the ring being fitted: on a 280 mm shaft seat the press load must pass through the inner-ring face only. Induction heating of the inner ring (max 120 °C) is the clean method at this size. Never strike the outer ring, the cage or the seals.
What lubrication does 6056 need?
The open 6056 is lubricated by the application; a NLGI 2 lithium-soap grease filled to roughly 25–35% of the free volume is the common choice, with a defined relubrication interval.
How does the 6056 bore code work?
The last two digits of 6056 are bore code 56, giving 56 × 5 = 280 mm bore. The 420 mm outside diameter and 65 mm width follow the ISO 15 diameter series, not the bore code alone.
What is the SKF designation and catalogue data for 6056?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 6056 — the open (unsealed) execution, 280×420×65 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 302 kN, C0 405 kN, Pu 9.3 kN, limiting speed 1900 r/min, mass 26000 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH, 2RSL) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 6056.
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.