C2238 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The C2238 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 190 x 340 x 92 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 190 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 340 mm |
| Width B | 92 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 1370 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 1730 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 153 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 1800 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 2400 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 34500 g |
| Manufacturer designation | C 2238 |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.1 CARB toroidal roller bearings |
| Last verified | 2026-09-27 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.1 CARB toroidal roller bearings) · extracted 2026-09-27
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.1 CARB toroidal roller bearings); 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 & C2200-series range
| Bore d | 7.48 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 13.386 in |
| Width B | 3.622 in |
| ISO bore code | 38 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 75 mm |
| Smallest bore in C2200-series | 30 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in C2200-series | 400 mm |
| Width range across C2200-series | 20–108 mm |
| Bore position in C2200-series (smallest first) | 20 of 21 |
| Bore above smallest C2200-series size | 160 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2238-K | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 190×340×92 mm ISO 15 envelope and equivalent catalogue C/C0; C 2238 K is the 1:12 tapered-bore K steel-caged execution of this size — boundary dimensions interchangeable, only mounting and cage execution differ. |
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 C2238 model number is decoded
C 2238 is the dimension series 22 CARB toroidal roller bearings member of the CARB range: 190 mm bore, 340 mm OD, 92 mm width, with the asymmetrical-looking toroidal roller set that defines the CARB principle. Reading the code: C marks the CARB toroidal family, the first two digits (22) identify the ISO dimension series and the last two (38) encode the 190 mm bore; suffixes describe bore and execution. CARB bearings locate neither radially nor axially: the inner ring can walk axially inside the outer ring over the catalogue-listed axial-displacement range (s), so shaft thermal growth disappears as thrust rather than preloading the 190 mm seat. Float capacity is a selection criterion: the catalogue lists the permissible axial displacement (s) for the 92 mm wide set; size the free-end housing so thermal growth stays within it, not just inside the overall width. After fitting, confirm the inner ring can be pushed axially by hand through the catalogue displacement range; a ring that will not slide means the position is locked and will preload in service.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- vibrating screen exciters fitted with the VE240 tolerance execution
- long fan and kiln main shafts where the free end must float without thrust load
- heavy industrial gearbox layshafts used as the non-locating position
- winder and reel drums in paper and steel strip plants
Known failure patterns
- roller-end and flange smearing after lubricant starvation at the long roller contacts
- roller skew and cage damage after the bearing is clamped solid between shaft and housing shoulders
- PA66 cage (TN9) softening when the sustained temperature passes the polymer limit
- condensation pitting in machines that run intermittently in humid environments
- oil starvation at the sliding contact zones of large spherical roller thrust bearings on forced-feed trips
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 190 mm bore, shaft expansion is already measurable: calculate the required float inside the 92 mm wide bearing rather than assuming the free-end clearance is "enough" at operating temperature.
- The quoted 1370/1730 kN ratings belong to this exact execution (C 2238); VE240 vibrating-screen variants and sealed 2CS/2NS variants have their own figures even at the same envelope.
- Do not block the axial displacement in the drawing: housing covers, labyrinth rings and snap rings must leave the catalogue float (s) free, or the bearing silently becomes a poorly located fixed bearing.
- Reference and limiting speeds are different limits: the 1,800 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, the limiting value is the mechanical ceiling; observe the reference under load unless the arrangement calculation says otherwise.
- Never use C 2238 as the locating bearing: it carries no axial load by design — the arrangement needs a separate locating spherical, tapered or angular bearing facing the thrust.
- The 1370/1730 kN ratings and 34500 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 10.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 864); mounting data — axial displacement (s) and seating details — appears in the running text because the structured record carries the boundary envelope only.
Frequently asked questions
What fails first on a misapplied CARB bearing?
Blocking the designed axial float — clamping the free end or locating both shaft ends — turns thermal growth into edge loading and spalls the toroidal raceways. Cage damage and ordinary fatigue follow overload or dry running.
Which dimensions does the C 2238 have?
A C 2238 measures 190 mm bore × 340 mm outside diameter × 92 mm width (7.48 × 13.386 × 3.622 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 1370 kN, static C0 1730 kN, fatigue limit Pu 153 kN, reference speed 1,800 r/min, limiting speed 2,400 r/min, mass about 34500 g.
What does C 2238 mean in SKF part numbering?
C marks CARB; 22 the dimension series; the size code gives 190 mm bore; the bare number is the execution (cylindrical bore for direct shaft fitting, pressed steel cage). The envelope follows ISO 15 and matches spherical roller bearing outlines, but the functions differ.
Why is C 2238 used opposite a spherical roller bearing?
The spherical bearing locates the shaft and takes thrust; the CARB bearing at the other end self-aligns but floats, absorbing thermal expansion without inducing axial load. The pair is standard on paper machine drying cylinders and long caster rolls.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.1 CARB toroidal roller bearings on 2026-09-27. Read our editorial & correction policy.