N252 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The N252 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 260 x 480 x 80 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 260 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 480 mm |
| Width B | 80 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 1270 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 1660 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 137 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1300 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 65600 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN N252 |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Source: catalog reference (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E) · extracted 2026-10-01
Parameters extracted from the official NTN Ball and Roller Bearings catalogue (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E); NTN® is a trademark of NTN Corporation, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized NTN distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at ntnglobal.com.
Dimensions in inches & N200-series range
| Bore d | 10.236 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 18.898 in |
| Width B | 3.15 in |
| ISO bore code | 52 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 110 mm |
| Smallest bore in N200-series | 17 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in N200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across N200-series | 12–92 mm |
| Bore position in N200-series (smallest first) | 32 of 35 |
| Bore above smallest N200-series size | 243 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| N252 | 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 N252 model number is decoded
N252 is the standard section of the NTN N200 dimension series for a 260 mm shaft — 1270 kN of basic dynamic capacity in a 65600 g, open bearing. The leading N defines the rib arrangement (inner ring ribbed, outer ring ribless); the dimension-series digits and the two-digit bore code resolve to 260 mm, with 480 mm OD and 80 mm width from the ISO 15 general plan. NTN prints two speed ceilings: 1,300 r/min grease and 1,600 r/min oil — the pressed-steel cage and lubricant film set the real limit at the 260 mm bore. With the inner ring rotating, catalogue practice is a m6/n6 shaft seat and an H7/H6 housing; the outer ring must remain free to creep slightly axially in non-locating N arrangements. Keep the open bearing wrapped until fitting: the line-contact raceways of the 260 mm bore indent under a single hard particle, and the steel cage provides no sealing of its own.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- offshore drawworks and winch drums
- heavy press and large gearbox main shafts
- rolling-mill work-roll and backup-roll positions
- large turbine and generator rotor bearings
Known failure patterns
- roller smearing (microwelding) at start-up before the oil film builds under insufficient radial load
- cage wear accelerated when the EA high-capacity roller complement runs continuously above its thermal balance
- roller-end and raceway scoring from inadequate oil flow under heavy radial load
- edge loading from shaft deflection beyond the 3–4 arc-minute alignment limit
- rolling-contact fatigue after the catalogue L10 life is exceeded
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 260 mm bore, oil-lubricated arrangements toward 1,600 r/min need positive flow and drain design; the 65600 g N252 ring stores enough heat that grease-only duty needs a careful relubrication calculation.
- Wide (22/23) and light (10/49) executions at 260 mm bore share bore but not OD/width; check the full N200 series code before substituting, because housing and shoulder geometry will not interchange.
- Open N252 units need application-supplied sealing and a defined lubricant schedule; film thickness is the first failure mode for line contact when viscosity drops at the 260 mm contact.
- Wide (22/23) and light (10/49) executions at 260 mm bore share bore but not OD/width; check the full N200 series code before substituting, because housing and shoulder geometry will not interchange.
- If the shaft must be located both ways, do not use N252 alone: pair it with a locating bearing or specify the NUP execution with the matching loose rib ring from the 2203E table.
- The 1270/1660 kN ratings, 137 kN Pu and 65600 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for N252 (standard execution); other makes sharing the ISO 15 envelope revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the 2203E reference with the specification for critical drives.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of N252?
N252 is an NTN N single-row cylindrical roller bearing to ISO 15: 260 mm bore, 480 mm OD and 80 mm width (10.236 × 18.898 × 3.15 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 1270 kN, C0 1660 kN, Pu 137 kN, grease limiting speed 1,300 r/min, oil 1,600 r/min, mass about 65600 g. It is open, with a pressed sheet-steel cage.
What is the difference between NU, NJ, NUP, N and NF cylindrical roller bearings?
The prefix states the rib arrangement: NU has two outer-ring ribs and a ribless inner ring (float, no axial load); NJ adds ribs for one-direction location; NUP adds a loose L-ring to locate both directions; N has two inner-ring ribs and a separable outer ring; NF has one rib per ring for one-direction guidance. N252 is two integral ribs on the inner ring and a ribless separable outer ring — equivalent float behaviour with the separable ring on the housing side.
What do the EA, E and ＊ suffixes mean on NTN cylindrical roller bearings?
EA is NTN's high-capacity design with a pressed sheet-steel cage and optimised roller complement in the same ISO 15 envelope; E marks the high-capacity design at the larger bores; the ＊ symbol printed before the code in the NTN catalogue marks the ULTAGE new-generation specification and is not typed as part of the order number. N252 is supplied in the standard open execution shown in the table.
Can N252 take axial load and locate a shaft?
the N design is non-locating like NU but floats with the separable outer ring in the housing. Provide axial location with an adjacent locating bearing (angular-contact, deep-groove or a paired NJ/NUP set).
What do Fw and Ew mean for N252?
Fw is the inner sub-assembly raceway/roller-set envelope diameter and Ew the outer-ring raceway diameter printed for geometric checks: Fw 320 mm, Ew 420 mm. The nominal bore/OD remain 260/480 mm; Fw/Ew describe the rolling-contact path, and speeds still run to 1,300 r/min grease / 1,600 r/min oil.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E on 2026-10-01. Read our editorial & correction policy.