6234 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6234 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 170 x 310 x 52 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Bore diameter d | 170 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 310 mm |
| Width B | 52 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 | 212 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 224 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 6.1 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 4300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 2800 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 16000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 6234 |
| 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 & 6200-series range
| Bore d | 6.693 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 12.205 in |
| Width B | 2.047 in |
| ISO bore code | 34 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 70 mm |
| Smallest bore in 6200-series | 10 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 6200-series | 400 mm |
| Width range across 6200-series | 9–65 mm |
| Bore position in 6200-series (smallest first) | 29 of 33 |
| Bore above smallest 6200-series size | 160 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6234 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; brand-specific OEM equivalents (NSK/FAG/NTN) pending multi-source data. |
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 6234 model number is decoded
In the 6200-series (ISO 15 diameter series 2) the last two digits encode the bore: 6234 carries bore code 34 = 170 mm. Outside diameter 310 mm and width 52 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 170 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a m6 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore — verify against the actual load direction and magnitude.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- medium and heavy industrial drives
- large gearboxes
- industrial fans and blowers
- hoists and winches
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- fretting corrosion on a loose shaft seat
- cage damage from operation beyond the limiting speed
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount this 170 mm bore bearing by heating the inner ring (induction heater, max 120 °C) — never drive it home through the outer ring or balls, that brinells the raceways.
- The 62xx light series is the default general-purpose section at 170 mm bore; before upgrading to a 6334 for extra capacity, confirm the housing accepts a 310 mm OD and 52 mm width — it is not a drop-in swap.
- The open 6234 has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 170×310×52 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 6234 units.
- A 170 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.
- The open 6234 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 6234-2Z (shields) and 6234-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 6234.
- The 212/224 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 6234 bearing?
A 6234 deep-groove ball bearing has a 170 mm bore, 310 mm outer diameter and 52 mm width (6.693 × 12.205 × 2.047 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
How does the 6234 bore code work?
The last two digits of 6234 are bore code 34, giving 34 × 5 = 170 mm bore. The 310 mm outside diameter and 52 mm width follow the ISO 15 diameter series, not the bore code alone.
What does no suffix on 6234 mean?
A bare 6234 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.
How does the 6200 compare with other series at the same 170 mm bore?
The '2' is the light diameter series: 310×52 mm with a 70.0 mm radial section at 170 mm bore. A 6334 on the same bore is larger and higher-rated; a 6034 is smaller and lower-rated.
What is the SKF designation and catalogue data for 6234?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 6234 — the open (unsealed) execution, 170×310×52 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 212 kN, C0 224 kN, Pu 6.1 kN, limiting speed 2800 r/min, mass 16000 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH, 2RSL) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 6234.
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.