6301-2RS-FAG bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020)) · extracted 2026-09-25

Parameters extracted from the official FAG Rolling Bearings catalogue (HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020)); FAG® is a trademark of Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized FAG/Schaeffler distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at schaeffler.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 6301-2RS-FAG model number is decoded

6301-2RS is closed by two contacting elastomer lips over a lifetime grease fill; the lips add friction, so the speed ceiling sits below the open execution. Within the medium 63xx section (diameter series 3 of ISO 15), multiplying bore code 12 by five gives the 12 mm bore; the 37 mm outside diameter and 12 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 12 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a j5 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. Schaeffler HR 1 catalogues the lip-contact sealed version as 6301-C-2HRS (FAG suffix 2RSR), 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.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Temperature rise and interference fits consume internal clearance on this 12 mm bore: a CN bearing on a tight, hot shaft can lose all residual clearance — size 6301 with C3 for those conditions.
• The 63xx medium section at 12 mm bore gains dynamic rating through larger rolling elements on a 37 mm OD; the penalty is mass and a lower limiting speed than the 6212 — do not specify it for speed-critical shafts.
• Heat is the enemy of the sealed 6301-2RS: 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.
• Never wash a sealed 6301-2RS-FAG in solvent or press it home via the outer ring; solvent destroys the grease thickener and mounting force through the seal deforms the lip.
• Assign fits by which ring rotates: an interference shaft fit for a rotating inner ring; if the outer ring rotates instead, reverse the logic — a loose rotating ring creeps and frets its seat.
• Grease compatibility is not guaranteed between fills: mixing lithium and polyurea thickeners in a 6300-series position can soften the mixture and leak — clean out the old fill before switching grease types.
• Schaeffler HR 1 lists the lip-contact sealed version as 6301-C-2HRS (FAG suffix 2RSR), 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. FAG's RSR lip material is NBR as standard — above roughly 100 °C continuous, consult Schaeffler for higher-temperature seal options.
• FAG rates 6301 at 21700 r/min mechanical limiting speed — a high-speed range where the thermal reference speed governs continuous duty; use low-viscosity turbine oil or high-speed grease and avoid lip-contact seals entirely.
• At 12 mm bore the 6301 sits in Schaeffler's small-bore range; HR 1 ships these sizes with a pressed steel or plastic cage and P0 tolerance as standard — for instrument or spindle accuracy order the P6/P5 variant explicitly, since P0 runout figures will not hold.
• FAG rates 6301 at 11.5 kN dynamic (C) and 4.2 kN static (C0); this light-to-medium rating suits fractional-horsepower drives and instruments — verify the equivalent dynamic load stays well below C for conveying or gearbox duty with shock.
• At 59 g, 6301 is light enough for hand assembly but should be pressed on with a fitting sleeve against the inner ring; do not strike the outer ring or cage with a hammer.
• The 12×37×12 mm envelope of 6301 gives a D/d ratio of 3.08 and 12.5 mm radial section height — a heavy FAG section 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 11.5/4.2 kN load ratings, mass 59 g here are Schaeffler HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) catalogue figures for 6301-C-2HRS on the 12×37×12 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6301 in a rated drive. Where FAG has since released an X-life version of this size, its expanded C/C0 ratings supersede the HR 1 print values quoted here.
• FAG sealed units arrive greased for life with a lithium-soap fill; Schaeffler quotes a shelf life for greased bearings and recommends running stock first-in-first-out rather than re-greasing aged sealed units.
• Mixing old and new FAG generations of the same designation in one arrangement is dimensionally acceptable, but where ratings matter — preloaded or matched sets — order both positions from the same generation and lot.