61808-RSR-NSK bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C) · extracted 2026-09-24

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 61808-RSR-NSK model number is decoded

61808-RSR uses two non-contact elastomer lips with very low drag; coarse debris stays out, but the bearing is not liquid-tight. Within the extra-thin 618xx section (diameter series 8 of ISO 15), multiplying bore code 08 by five gives the 40 mm bore; the 52 mm outside diameter and 7 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 40 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a k5 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. NSK's non-contact seal suffix is VV (catalogue number 6808VV), mapped here from the industry-neutral -RSR spelling; speed capability is close to the open bearing but VV is not liquid-tight.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Sizes around 40 mm bore are normally pressed on cold with a sleeve against the inner-ring face; the press force must never route through the outer ring or the balls of 61808-RSR-NSK.
• Only 6.0 mm of radial section separates bore and OD on the 618xx series at 40 mm: ring flex from clamping or an oval housing bore transfers straight into raceway stress, so seat roundness matters more here than on a 6208.
• RSR low-friction seals on 61808-RSR-NSK run faster than contact-seal 61808-2RS but let fine dust and moisture past the non-contact lip; in dirty or wet duty specify 61808-2RS instead.
• The low-drag lip of 61808-RSR-NSK barely touches the inner ring; after long shelf storage the grease can separate, so rotate the rings by hand and confirm smooth, silent running before fitting.
• The housing bore for the 52 mm OD should be round within IT7; an oval bore pinches the outer ring of 61808-RSR-NSK and shows up later as two-point loaded raceway wear.
• Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 7 mm-wide ring seats square; provide an undercut or withdrawal groove instead of relying on an oversized radius.
• NSK catalogues this low-friction non-contact seal as 6808VV (suffix VV), mapped here from the industry-neutral -RSR spelling. NSK rates its speed capability close to the open bearing, but VV is not liquid-tight — for wet or fine-dust duty step up to the DDU contact seal (industry-neutral -2RS).
• The 40 mm bore puts 61808 in NSK's general-purpose industrial range; the standard pressed-steel cage and CN clearance cover most electric-motor and pump duty. NSK's VV non-contact seal is the high-speed choice here — DDU contact seal costs roughly 30–40% of the open-bearing speed ceiling.
• NSK rates 61808 at 7 kN dynamic (C) and 5.55 kN static (C0); this light-to-medium rating suits fractional-horsepower drives and instruments — for conveying or gearbox duty with shock loads, verify the equivalent dynamic load stays well below C.
• At only 31 g, 61808 is a lightweight NSK bearing that can be handled by hand; still, press it onto the shaft with a sleeve against the inner ring — never through the balls or outer ring.
• The 40×52×7 mm envelope of 61808 gives a D/d ratio of 1.30 and only 6.0 mm radial section height — this is an ultra-thin section in NSK's E1103 catalogue where shaft deflection and housing ovality directly load the ball-raceway contact; verify shaft stiffness (target deflection under 0.05 mm) before specifying it over a 62-series.
• The 7/5.55 kN load ratings, mass 31 g here are NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C catalogue figures for 6808VV on the 40×52×7 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 61808 in a rated drive. NSK does not tabulate reference or limiting speeds in the E1103 Part C dimension tables used for this page — consult NSK's separate speed-rating tables before high-speed service.
• NSK's VV non-contact seal keeps frictional torque close to the open 61808; in motor duty where heat build-up matters, VV is the usual compromise between debris protection and speed capability.
• Standard P0 runout from NSK is adequate up to the catalogue limiting speed on ground shaft seats; spindle or instrument positions should specify P6/P5 accuracy explicitly — it is a different order code, not a sorting of standard stock.