6221-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 6221-NTN 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 NTN catalogue this open execution carries the bare designation; protected variants are ordered separately with suffixes ZZ (shields), LLB/LLF (non-contact seals), LLH (low-torque contact seal) and LLU (contact seal).

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• At 105 mm bore the ring mass is significant: heat 6221 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.
• At 105 mm bore the 62xx light series is the workhorse section; its 190×36 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.
• The open 6221-NTN 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.
• Open bearings tolerate the highest speeds in the 6200-series but need a defined regreasing interval; run-to-failure lubrication is the dominant cause of early failure in open 6221 units.
• A 105 mm bore listing showing the right d/D/B but no standard or precision-class reference may be a loose-tolerance import; measure bore/OD spread before fitting it to a machined shaft.
• 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.
• The open 6221 has no integral sealing; in the NTN 2203 catalogue the protected variants carry suffixes ZZ (non-contact steel shields), LLB/LLF (non-contact rubber seals), LLU (contact rubber seals) and LLH (a low-torque contact seal with higher speed capability than LLU). A JR or JRX suffix (printed for some thin-section sizes) denotes a pressed-steel cage, not a seal.
• At 105 mm bore 6221 is in NTN's medium industrial range; the pressed-steel cage is standard but large-section 63xx/64xx 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 NTN channel if the application sees impact loads.
• NTN lists the grease limiting speed at 3400 r/min for 6221; this is a large or heavy-section size where centrifugal force and cage inertia cap the speed — for higher shaft speeds either step to a smaller bearing on the same bore or consult NTN for an oil-lubricated, machined-cage variant.
• At 147 kN dynamic load rating (C) and 105 kN static (C0), 6.75 kN fatigue load limit Cu, 6221 is a heavy-load bearing for industrial gearboxes and large conveyors; NTN expects a machined brass cage (suffix M) at this rating for shock duty, and the static C0 must be checked against any mounting or lifting loads.
• At 3700 g (3.7 kg), 6221 needs mechanical handling for mounting; NTN 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 medium section that balances load capacity and speed; for this geometry the pressed-steel cage is adequate up to the listed limiting speed, and C3 clearance is the common choice for hot shafts.
• The 147/105 kN load ratings, 6.75 kN fatigue load limit Cu NTN lists the grease limiting speed at 3400 r/min for this designation; oil-mist or jet lubrication raises the ceiling but requires a sealed-housing review. and 3700 g mass here are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203-3/E 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.
• NTN date-codes its packaging; rotate stock first-in-first-out, because the grease inside sealed units ages on the shelf — after three to five years of storage, check the grease condition before putting the bearing into service.
• NTN's pressed-steel cage (no cage suffix) is the quiet standard for this size; for sustained running close to the limiting speed or for heavy shock duty, ask the NTN channel whether a machined-cage execution of 6221 is listed.