6221-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 6221-NSK model number is decoded

In the 6200-series (diameter series 2 of ISO 15) the last two digits encode the bore: 6221 carries bore code 21 = 105 mm. Outside diameter 190 mm and width 36 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 105 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 NSK catalogue this open execution carries the bare designation; protected variants are ordered separately with suffixes ZZ (steel shields), VV (non-contact rubber seals) and DDU (contact rubber seals).

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Large bores like the 105 mm of 6221-NSK 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.
• The 62xx light series is the default general-purpose section at 105 mm bore; before upgrading to a 6321 for extra capacity, confirm the housing accepts a 190 mm OD and 36 mm width — it is not a drop-in swap.
• The open 6221-NSK has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 105×190×36 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
• Storage matters for open bearings: 6221-NSK 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.
• Grease compatibility is not guaranteed between fills: mixing lithium and polyurea thickeners in a 6200-series position can soften the mixture and leak — clean out the old fill before switching grease types.
• Axial location must clamp the ring face, not the seal area: a shoulder or circlip bearing on the seal side of the 36 mm-wide ring of 6221-NSK drags the lip and overheats it.
• The open 6221 has no integral sealing; in the NSK E1103 catalogue the protected variants carry suffixes ZZ (non-contact steel shields), VV (non-contact rubber seals) and DDU (contact rubber seals). NSK does not offer a low-torque contact seal equivalent to NTN's LLH in this catalogue — for high-speed sealed duty specify the VV non-contact seal and an external housing labyrinth.
• At 105 mm bore 6221 is in NSK's medium industrial range; the pressed-steel cage is standard, but large-section 63xx sizes at this bore can be ordered with a machined brass cage (suffix M) for heavy-shock or very-low-speed duty — confirm cage material with the NSK channel if the application sees impact loads.
• NSK rates 6221 at 146 kN dynamic (C) and 105 kN static (C0); this heavy-load rating is at the upper end of the E1103 Part C single-row deep-groove extract — NSK supplies a machined brass cage (suffix M) and expects an application review, because catalogue L10 life alone does not capture shock and misalignment loads at this rating.
• At 3790 g (3.8 kg), 6221 needs mechanical handling for mounting; NSK recommends induction heating the inner ring (max 120 °C) rather than pressing cold, and a lifting eye if the housing is pre-assembled.
• The 105×190×36 mm envelope of 6221 gives a D/d ratio of 1.81 and 42.5 mm radial section height — a standard NSK medium section that balances load capacity and speed; for this geometry the pressed-steel cage is adequate up to NSK's listed speed ratings, and C3 clearance is the common choice for hot shafts.
• The 146/105 kN load ratings, mass 3790 g here are NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C catalogue figures for 6221 on the 105×190×36 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6221 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 6221; in motor duty where heat build-up matters, VV is the usual compromise between debris protection and speed capability.
• NSK supplies its sealed units pre-greased for general duty between roughly -10 and +110 °C; low-temperature, food-grade and high-temperature fills are special executions — ask at order time, because DDU/VV units are not designed to be opened and repacked.