61960 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 61960 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 300 x 420 x 56 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 300 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 420 mm |
| Width B | 56 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 | 270 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 375 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 8.3 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 3000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1900 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 19000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 61960 |
| 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 & 61900-series range
| Bore d | 11.811 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 16.535 in |
| Width B | 2.205 in |
| ISO bore code | 60 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 60 mm |
| Smallest bore in 61900-series | 3 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 61900-series | 1120 mm |
| Width range across 61900-series | 3–118 mm |
| Bore position in 61900-series (smallest first) | 44 of 63 |
| Bore above smallest 61900-series size | 297 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61960 | 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. |
| 61960-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 300×420×56 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting. |
| 61960-MA | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF 61960 MA (machined brass cage, open arrangement) is the same-size execution on the 300×420×56 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 61960 model number is decoded
In the 61900-series (diameter series 9 of ISO 15) the last two digits encode the bore: 61960 carries bore code 60 = 300 mm. Outside diameter 420 mm and width 56 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 300 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a m6 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore — verify against the actual load direction and magnitude. 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
- textile machinery
- packaging machinery
- space-constrained gearboxes
- clutch and transmission assemblies
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- brinelling from static overload or hammering during mounting
- false brinelling from vibration while the shaft is stationary
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 300 mm bore the ring mass is significant: heat 61960 on an induction heater (max 120 °C), never over an open flame, and plan puller access or a withdrawal sleeve now for the day it has to come off again.
- The 619xx thin section at 300 mm bore (60.0 mm section height) cannot shrug off the misalignment a standard section tolerates; keep the housing bores round and aligned, or edge contact will spall the raceways early.
- The open 61960 has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 300×420×56 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
- Open bearings tolerate the highest speeds in the 61900-series but need a defined regreasing interval; run-to-failure lubrication is the dominant cause of early failure in open 61960 units.
- Suffixes stack in a defined order — clearance follows the seal code, e.g. 61960-C3. No clearance suffix means normal CN clearance.
- Measure the shaft, do not trust the drawing: a 300 mm nominal journal worn by even 0.02 mm turns an interference seat into a creeping fit that frets the bore of 61960.
- The open 61960 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 61960-2Z (shields) and 61960-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 61960.
- The 270/375 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 61960 bearing?
A 61960 deep-groove ball bearing has a 300 mm bore, 420 mm outer diameter and 56 mm width (11.811 × 16.535 × 2.205 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
What lubrication does 61960 need?
The open 61960 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 61960 bore code work?
The last two digits of 61960 are bore code 60, giving 60 × 5 = 300 mm bore. The 420 mm outside diameter and 56 mm width follow the ISO 15 diameter series, not the bore code alone.
What does no suffix on 61960 mean?
A bare 61960 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.
What is the SKF designation and catalogue data for 61960?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 61960 — the open (unsealed) execution, 300×420×56 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 270 kN, C0 375 kN, Pu 8.3 kN, limiting speed 1900 r/min, mass 19000 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH, 2RSL) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 61960.
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.