6208-2RS-NTN bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203-3/E (2024)) · extracted 2026-09-25

Parameters extracted from the official NTN Ball and Roller Bearings catalogue (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203-3/E (2024)); NTN® is a trademark of NTN Corporation, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized NTN distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at ntnglobal.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 6208-2RS-NTN model number is decoded

In the 6200-series (diameter series 2 of ISO 15) the last two digits encode the bore: 6208 carries bore code 08 = 40 mm. Outside diameter 80 mm and width 18 mm come from the ISO 15 boundary-dimensions general plan. Suffix -2RS denotes two contact-type elastomer seals over a lifetime grease fill; the sealing lips add drag compared with open or shielded versions. For normal-load mounting with a rotating inner ring on a 40 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a k5 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore — verify against the actual load direction and magnitude. NTN's contact-seal catalogue number is 6208LLU (suffix LLU, or LLH low-torque variant), mapped here from the industry-neutral -2RS spelling; the contacting lip lowers the speed ceiling versus the open bearing.

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 6208-2RS-NTN.
• At 40 mm bore the 62xx light series is the workhorse section; its 80×18 mm envelope is what most motor and gearbox seats are machined for, so any alternative section must be checked against both this OD and this width, not the bore alone.
• Contact seals add drag and heat: 6208-2RS-NTN runs slower and cooler-limited than the open 6208; rubber lips are generally limited to roughly 80–110 °C continuous depending on grease, and C3 clearance is the common hot-duty choice.
• Heat is the enemy of the sealed 6208-2RS: sustained running near the lip temperature limit hardens the rubber, after which grease escapes and dirt tracks in — watch the housing temperature in hot drives.
• Axial location must clamp the ring face, not the seal area: a shoulder or circlip bearing on the seal side of the 18 mm-wide ring of 6208-2RS-NTN drags the lip and overheats it.
• Deep-groove ball bearings tolerate only minutes of misalignment; if the 80 mm housing cannot be aligned, switch to a self-aligning type rather than shimming 6208-2RS-NTN.
• NTN catalogues the contact-sealed version as 6208LLU (suffix LLU), mapped here from the industry-neutral -2RS spelling; it is greased for life and the contacting lip lowers the speed ceiling versus the open bearing.
• The 40 mm bore puts 6208 in NTN's general-purpose industrial range; the standard pressed-steel cage and CN clearance cover most electric-motor and pump duty, but for continuous high-speed use specify the LLH low-torque seal (not LLU) and confirm the housing allows the listed limiting speed.
• At 5600 r/min the grease limiting speed for 6208 covers medium-duty industrial drives; the contact seal (LLU) is the main speed limiter here — for continuous operation above 80% of this figure use the open variant with an external labyrinth seal and oil bath.
• At 32.5 kN dynamic load rating (C) and 17.8 kN static (C0), 1.24 kN fatigue load limit Cu, 6208 is a medium-load bearing suitable for most electric-motor and pump duty; the C0/C0r ratio matters for preloaded or thrust-loaded arrangements, so confirm the static safety factor with the NTN catalogue.
• At 366 g, 6208 requires a soft-jaw vise or arbor press for mounting — never hammer it onto the shaft, and support the opposite ring to avoid brinelling the raceways.
• The 40×80×18 mm envelope of 6208 gives a D/d ratio of 2.00 and 20.0 mm radial section height — a heavy section built for high-load, lower-speed duty; specifying it in a high-rpm motor generates excess heat and shortens grease life, so prefer a 62/63-series there.
• The 32.5/17.8 kN load ratings, 1.24 kN fatigue load limit Cu NTN lists the grease limiting speed at 5600 r/min for this designation; oil-mist or jet lubrication raises the ceiling but requires a sealed-housing review. and 366 g mass here are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203-3/E figures for 6208LLU on the 40×80×18 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6208 in a rated drive.
• Two NTN bearings of the same designation from different production lots can carry minor internal-geometry revisions; for paired or preloaded arrangements on one shaft, order a single lot through the NTN distributor.
• Order the C3 internal-clearance version (6208 with C3 after the seal code) when the shaft fit is tight or the shaft-to-housing temperature gradient exceeds roughly 10 °C — the residual clearance after mounting, not the catalogue CN figure, decides service life.