NF252 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NF252 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 NF252 |
| 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 & NF200-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 NF200-series | 20 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NF200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across NF200-series | 14–92 mm |
| Bore position in NF200-series (smallest first) | 31 of 34 |
| Bore above smallest NF200-series size | 240 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NF252 | 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 NF252 model number is decoded
NF252 belongs to the NTN cylindrical roller range in NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: line-contact rollers between ground raceways for a 1270 kN dynamic rating in the 260 mm bore. Reading the code: NF for the rib-on-each-ring type, then the ISO 15 diameter/width series and the bore code — ×5 = 260 mm (00–03 use the 10/12/15/17 exception table). NTN ships these bearings open with normal (CN) radial clearance and P0 tolerance as standard; precision classes and C3/C4 clearance are separate order suffixes, not part of NF252. Equivalent-load planning treats NF252 as a pure radial bearing: keep P below 1270 kN at the required L10, and let a paired angular-contact or thrust part carry any sustained axial component. Heat the inner ring to max 120 °C for the 260 mm interference fit and support the ring face square during fitting; cocking over a keyway brinells the raceway before first rotation.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large turbine and generator rotor bearings
- wind-turbine gearbox planet and rotor shafts
- ship propulsion line shafts and reduction gears
- mining SAG/ball-mill drive shafts
Known failure patterns
- roller smearing (microwelding) at start-up before the oil film builds under insufficient radial load
- pressed-steel cage pocket wear when rollers skid at light load or too-thin lubricant
- roller-end and raceway scoring from inadequate oil flow under heavy radial load
- fretting corrosion on a loose rotating shaft seat
- hard-particle indentation of raceways in unfiltered oil or open arrangements
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 NF252 ring stores enough heat that grease-only duty needs a careful relubrication calculation.
- The EA high-capacity roller complement changes the load figure versus the basic execution of the same number; the 1270/1660 kN pair here belongs to NF252 as printed, not to the bare size.
- Minimum radial load is frequently missed in oversized motor and fan selections: an underloaded NF252 skids at 1,300 r/min and fails by smearing long before L10 fatigue.
- If the shaft must be located both ways, do not use NF252 alone: pair it with a locating bearing or specify the NUP execution with the matching loose rib ring from the 2203E table.
- Never press either ring through the roller complement when fitting: mounting force goes through the ring faces, or the 480 mm race brinells and releases as vibration within hours.
- The 1270/1660 kN ratings, 137 kN Pu and 65600 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NF252 (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 NF252?
NF252 is an NTN NF 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. NF252 is one integral rib on each ring — separable inner ring with single-direction axial guidance and a defined shaft position.
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. NF252 is supplied in the standard open execution shown in the table.
Can NF252 take axial load and locate a shaft?
the NF design gives one-direction axial guidance via its single outer-ring rib. The loose rib ring still only suits light/short-duration axial guidance; heavy thrust belongs to a dedicated thrust bearing.
What do Fw and Ew mean for NF252?
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.