C3168-KM bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

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.

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 C3168-KM model number is decoded

In SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000, C 3168 KM denotes a toroidal roller bearing whose 190 mm long rollers crown at both ends: the contact accepts angular misalignment while the ring positions float, which is why CARB bearings are specified at the free shaft end. The designation C 3168 KM separates into C (CARB), 31 (dimension series), 68 (340 mm bore) and KM (tapered 1:12 bore for adapter (H) sleeve mounting, machined brass M cage); envelope 340×580×190 mm follows the ISO 15 plan. The K suffix gives a 1:12 tapered 340 mm bore, mounted on an adapter (H) sleeve so the bearing can be driven up to the specified clearance. The same size is listed in both bore executions, and the boundary dimensions 340×580×190 mm are identical — only the mounting method changes. Float capacity is a selection criterion: the catalogue lists the permissible axial displacement (s) for the 190 mm wide set; size the free-end housing so thermal growth stays within it, not just inside the overall width. Open executions accept relubrication — route it through the outer-ring groove on sizes that have one and purge stale grease at service intervals. Grease through the annular groove features where provided; on open executions feed lubricant past the long roller set at assembly, since the 190 mm wide cavity does not fill itself.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Above 200 mm bore these bearings weigh tens of kilograms (205 kg here) — lifting gear and induction heating are mandatory, and a cocked ring scores the toroidal raceway before start-up.
• 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.
• Envelope-identical spherical roller bearings (same ISO 15 d×D×B) are not drop-in equivalents — they locate the shaft axially, while C 3168 KM must float; the two are designed to be used as a pair.
• Reference and limiting speeds are different limits: the 850 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.
• The quoted 4900/7500 kN ratings belong to this exact execution (C 3168 KM); VE240 vibrating-screen variants and sealed 2CS/2NS variants have their own figures even at the same envelope.
• The 4900/7500 kN ratings and 205000 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.