C3972-KM-OH3972-HE bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The C3972-KM-OH3972-HE is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 340 x 480 x 90 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 340 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 480 mm |
| Width B | 90 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | brass |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 1760 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 3250 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 245 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 1000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1400 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 73000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF C 3972 KM + OH 3972 HE |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.2-10.3 CARB on sleeves |
| Last verified | 2026-09-29 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.2-10.3 CARB on sleeves) · extracted 2026-09-29
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.2-10.3 CARB on sleeves); 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 & carb-adapter-sleeve range
| Bore d | 13.386 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 18.898 in |
| Width B | 3.543 in |
| ISO bore code | 72 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 70 mm |
| Smallest bore in carb-adapter-sleeve | 25 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in carb-adapter-sleeve | 1580 mm |
| Width range across carb-adapter-sleeve | 20–462 mm |
| Bore position in carb-adapter-sleeve (smallest first) | 32 of 51 |
| Bore above smallest carb-adapter-sleeve size | 315 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3972 | 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 C3972-KM-OH3972-HE model number is decoded
What the H execution changes: an adapter sleeve clamps the 360 mm tapered bore onto a plain 340 mm shaft, so the housing-side location work happens at the sleeve locknut — no machined shaft shoulder is needed at the bearing seat. Fatigue floor: Pu 245 kN governs the adjusted-life calculation at contaminated or partial-film conditions, exactly as for the bare C 3972 KM bearing — the sleeve execution does not change the L10 arithmetic. Mounting C3972-KM-OH3972-HE: clean the 340 mm seat, slip on sleeve+bearing as one unit, seat against the housing bore 480 mm H7, then drive the withdrawal sleeve up its cone in small steps, checking radial internal clearance after each step until the catalogue residual clearance for the K bore is reached. The unit's temp range follows the bearing: -40 to +120 °C continuous for the standard execution; cage and sleeve execution letters on C 3972 KM and OH 3972 HE must be checked against the application temperature before substitution.Ordering C3972-KM-OH3972-HE buys one matched assembly — CARB bearing C 3972 KM on withdrawal sleeve OH 3972 HE — rather than a bearing and a sleeve ordered separately for a 340 mm shaft.Numbering logic: the bearing half C 3972 KM follows the CARB works numbering (type C, dimension series, 360 mm bore), while OH 3972 HE identifies the sleeve execution for that bore; the combo C3972-KM-OH3972-HE exists in the catalogue so that shaft (340 mm), housing (480 mm) and both components are specified with one order number.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- winder and reel drums in paper and steel strip plants
- paper machine drying cylinders and calender rolls with long, thermally expanding shafts
- continuous-caster guide rolls and slab-caster segments under heat growth
- long fan and kiln main shafts where the free end must float without thrust load
Known failure patterns
- misalignment edge loading when the housing bore is out of square with the shaft seat
- sleeve creep on the shaft seat when the sleeve was not driven to its marked travel or clearance
- sleeve creep on the shaft seat when the sleeve was not driven to its marked travel or clearance
- fretting corrosion at the shaft-sleeve interface under vibration with an undersized seat
- fretting corrosion at the shaft-sleeve interface under vibration with an undersized seat
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Do not run C3972-KM-OH3972-HE as a locating bearing: the CARB raceway is toroidal and the unit is designed to float axially; blocking it against a shoulder preloads the rollers and ends in thermal failure.
- Contamination discipline: the CARB bearing is open (this execution has no seals); flush the housing before mounting C3972-KM-OH3972-HE and maintain the lubricant filtration — hard particles indent the toroidal raceway quickly at heavy load.
- Protect the 340 mm seat: sleeve bore corrosion or seat ovality shows up later as sleeve creep and fretting; inspect and measure the seat at every dismounting of C3972-KM-OH3972-HE.
- The 1760/3250 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the CARB bearing; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification.
- Quote the full unit designation SKF C 3972 KM + OH 3972 HE when purchasing — bearing and sleeve execution letters are part of the order number and define the matched taper pair.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of C3972-KM-OH3972-HE?
The unit is CARB bearing C 3972 KM on withdrawal sleeve OH 3972 HE, fitting a 340 mm shaft (13.386 in), housing bore 480 mm, bearing width 90 mm. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 1760 kN, C0 3250 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 245 kN, combined mass about 73.0 kg. Reference speed 1,000 r/min, limiting speed 1,400 r/min (bearing values).
Why does C3972-KM-OH3972-HE list a 340 mm shaft size when the bearing bore is 360 mm?
The sleeve takes up the difference: the withdrawal sleeve OH 3972 HE has a tapered outside that engages the bearing's 360 mm tapered bore and a cylindrical bore that seats on the 340 mm shaft. The catalogue's principal dimensions describe the mounted result — shaft seat, housing bore and bearing width — not the bearing bore alone.
Is C3972-KM-OH3972-HE a locating or non-locating bearing?
Non-locating. The CARB toroidal roller bearing is designed as the free end of the shaft: its raceway geometry tolerates misalignment and allows axial float, while a separate locating bearing (typically a spherical roller or paired taper) takes the thrust. The sleeve does not change this function.
Can I buy the bearing C 3972 KM and the sleeve OH 3972 HE separately?
The components are catalogued separately, but the taper pair is matched — the sleeve seat and the bearing bore are manufactured to the same execution. Ordering the unit C3972-KM-OH3972-HE as one catalogue line keeps bearing and sleeve compatible; if ordering separately, quote both full designations including execution letters.
How is the clearance of C3972-KM-OH3972-HE set at mounting?
By driving the adapter sleeve up its conical seat: the sleeve expands on the 340 mm shaft and onto the bearing bore, reducing the radial internal clearance. Mount in steps and measure residual clearance until it reaches the catalogue value for the K bore — never set it by nut torque alone.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 10.2-10.3 CARB on sleeves on 2026-09-29. Read our editorial & correction policy.