C3138-V bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

The C3138-V is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 190 x 320 x 104 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.

Bearing dimension schematic Front view shows outer diameter D and bore d; side section shows width B. D = 320 mm d = 190 B = 104 mm side section front view
Principal dimensions: bore d 190 mm, outer diameter D 320 mm, width B 104 mm. Schematic, not to scale.

Specification table

ParameterValue
Brand SKF
Bore diameter d 190 mm
Outer diameter D 320 mm
Width B 104 mm
Material GCr15
Seal / shield open
Internal clearance CN
Tolerance class P0
Cage none
Basic dynamic load rating C 1700 kN
Basic static load rating C0 2550 kN
Fatigue load limit Pu 224 kN
Limiting speed (mechanical) 190 rpm
Operating temperature -40 to +120 °C
Mass 34000 g
Manufacturer designation C 3138 V
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 & C3100-series range

Bore d 7.48 in
Outer diameter D 12.598 in
Width B 4.094 in
ISO bore code 38
Radial section height (D−d)/2 65 mm
Smallest bore in C3100-series 100 mm
Largest outer diameter in C3100-series 1580 mm
Width range across C3100-series 52–462 mm
Bore position in C3100-series (smallest first) 5 of 28
Bore above smallest C3100-series size 90 mm

Cross references & equivalents

Equivalent modelBrandMatch levelNote
C3138-KV SKF full
Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange.
Same 190×320×104 mm ISO 15 envelope and equivalent catalogue C/C0; C 3138 KV is the 1:12 tapered-bore K full-complement V execution of this size — boundary dimensions interchangeable, only mounting and cage execution differ.
23138 SKF partial
Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ.
Same 190×320×104 mm envelope as the SKF spherical roller bearing SKF 23138 CC/W33, but catalogue C/C0 differ (1700/2550 kN vs 1456/2080 kN) — and the functions differ: spherical locates axially, CARB floats. Pair them; never swap one-for-one.
23138-CCK-W33 SKF partial
Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ.
Same 190×320×104 mm envelope as the SKF spherical roller bearing SKF 23138 CCK/W33, but catalogue C/C0 differ (1700/2550 kN vs 1456/2080 kN) — and the functions differ: spherical locates axially, CARB floats. Pair them; never swap one-for-one.

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 C3138-V model number is decoded

SKF lists C 3138 V in the dimension series 31 CARB toroidal roller bearings: the toroidal roller profile both follows tolerates angular misalignment and lets the inner ring slide axially inside the outer ring, giving free axial displacement at the non-locating position. In C 3138 V the 31 dimension series fixes the 320 mm OD and 104 mm width around the 190 mm bore (code 38 × 5); the suffix V then selects the cylindrical bore for direct shaft fitting, full-complement V execution (no cage). The cylindrical 190 mm bore mounts directly on a machined seat; the outer ring takes a loose housing fit so the bearing can float axially. The same size is listed in both bore executions, and the boundary dimensions 190×320×104 mm are identical — only the mounting method changes. No thermal reference speed is listed for this full-complement execution; the mechanical limiting speed is 190 r/min. The full-complement V executions carry more load but list no thermal reference speed; the steel-caged executions run faster and cooler at light load. Mounting: slide the bearing onto the 190 mm seat or heat it (max 120 °C) and seat it square; never press through the 104 mm roller set, and leave the free-end housing shoulder clear so axial float is unrestricted.

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

  • raceway spalling once the catalogue L10 life is exceeded or after sustained overload
  • roller skew and cage damage after the bearing is clamped solid between shaft and housing shoulders
  • brass cage pocket wear under marginal lubrication in the large-bore M/MB executions
  • electrical erosion of raceways on VFD-driven shafts without grounding or insulation
  • grease churning and overheating when a high-speed thrust position is over-packed

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

  • At 190 mm bore, shaft expansion is already measurable: calculate the required float inside the 104 mm wide bearing rather than assuming the free-end clearance is "enough" at operating temperature.
  • Never use C 3138 V 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.
  • Tapered-bore K executions mount on adapter sleeves (1:12) and K30 on withdrawal sleeves (1:30) — the 190 mm bore changes the sleeve family, and the drive-up procedure differs accordingly.
  • Envelope-identical spherical roller bearings (same ISO 15 d×D×B) are not drop-in equivalents — they locate the shaft axially, while C 3138 V must float; the two are designed to be used as a pair.
  • Reference and limiting speeds are different limits: the catalogue lists no thermal reference speed for this full-complement/sealed execution, the limiting value is the mechanical ceiling; observe the reference under load unless the arrangement calculation says otherwise.
  • The 1700/2550 kN ratings and 34000 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

How is C 3138 V mounted?

Slide or heat (max 120 °C) the bearing onto the 190 mm seat, give the outer ring a loose housing fit, leave the float travel unobstructed, and never press through the 104 mm roller set.

What are the dimensions and ratings of the C 3138 V?

A C 3138 V measures 190 mm bore × 320 mm outside diameter × 104 mm width (7.48 × 12.598 × 4.094 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 1700 kN, static C0 2550 kN, fatigue limit Pu 224 kN, limiting speed 190 r/min, no reference speed listed, mass about 34000 g.

Can a CARB bearing like C 3138 V locate the shaft axially?

No — that is the defining feature. C 3138 V deliberately allows the inner ring to float axially inside the outer ring while the toroidal rollers self-align. It must be paired with a separate locating bearing (spherical, tapered or angular contact) that takes 100 % of the thrust.

How is the C 3138 V designation read?

C = CARB toroidal family; 31 = dimension series; 38 = 190 mm bore (code 38 × 5); suffix V selects cylindrical bore for direct shaft fitting, full-complement V execution (no cage). K is a 1:12 tapered bore for an adapter sleeve, K30 a 1:30 bore for a withdrawal sleeve.

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.