HK1516F bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The HK1516F is a ISO 3245 radial bearing sized 15 x 21 x 16 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 15 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 21 mm |
| Width B | 16 mm |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 10.7 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 14.4 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 1.75 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 11000 rpm |
| Mass | 15 g |
| Manufacturer designation | HK1516F |
| Standard | ISO 3245 |
| Catalog version | CAT. No. 2203-3/E 2024 |
| Last verified | 2026-09-25 |
Source: catalog reference (CAT. No. 2203-3/E 2024) · extracted 2026-09-25
Parameters extracted from the official NTN Ball and Roller Bearings catalogue (CAT. No. 2203-3/E 2024); 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 & HK-series range
| Bore d | 0.591 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.827 in |
| Width B | 0.63 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 3 mm |
| Smallest bore in HK-series | 3 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in HK-series | 58 mm |
| Width range across HK-series | 6–38 mm |
| Bore position in HK-series (smallest first) | 12 of 24 |
| Bore above smallest HK-series size | 12 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the HK1516F model number is decoded
The NTN HK1516F — an open-end drawn-cup needle roller bearing — sits in the HK-series under ISO 3245 boundary dimensions.Reading the size code: 15 mm is Fw, the under-roller (shaft journal) diameter; 21 mm and 16 mm are the cup outside diameter and width respectively. There is no separate inner ring — the thin-walled cup is drawn from sheet steel, hardened, and press-fitted into the housing, giving the smallest radial section of any rolling bearing at this shaft size. The F suffix marks NTN's caged drawn-cup execution: a formed steel cage spaces the rollers, lowering friction versus full-complement drawn cups. Automotive gearbox designers default to this class when the radial envelope is fixed: the cup keeps the casing compact without giving up the required rating. You will find this cup size inside small two-stroke crankcases, supporting the small-end of the connecting rod where the housing is split and the bearing is pressed in before the case halves close. If the shaft cannot be hardened, press the matching IR inner ring onto it first; the ring gives the rollers a hardened, ground raceway and lets you keep a soft shaft for assembly reasons.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- industrial gearbox lay shafts
- hydraulic pump and motor shafts
- compressor crankshaft supports
- intermittent duty with long standstill periods that invite false brinelling
Known failure patterns
- brinelling of the drawn cup from hammer blows during press-in mounting
- grease starvation in the open-end arrangement with no relubrication path
- raceway spalling on a shaft that was below the required 58–64 HRC hardness
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- The HK1516F drawn cup is a thin shell that takes the shape of its housing: the housing bore must be machined to tolerance (typically N6/N7 for steel housings) — a worn or oval seat distorts the cup and cuts life.
- Before pressing HK1516F in, verify the 15 mm housing seat is still round — extracting the old cup often pulls the bore, and the new thin shell will conform to any distortion.
- The cage in HK1516F guides the rollers but is not a seal: it retains nothing against dust or washdown, so the housing still needs its own sealing arrangement at 15 mm.
- The 16 mm standard width of HK1516F is the general-purpose section at 15 mm shaft; wider HK variants in the same 15×21 mm envelope carry more load and are not interchangeable if the housing width is fixed.
Frequently asked questions
Does HK1516F need a hardened shaft?
Either the 15 mm shaft journal must be hardened to 58–64 HRC and ground to Ra ≤ 0.2 µm, or you can fit the matching inner ring (IR12x15x16.5) so a standard unhardened shaft can be used.
What are the dimensions of a HK1516F needle roller bearing?
A HK1516F drawn-cup needle roller bearing has a 15 mm shaft diameter (Fw, under-roller diameter), 21 mm outside diameter and 16 mm width, per ISO 3245 boundary dimensions. It has no inner ring — the shaft journal serves as the raceway.
What does Fw mean on a HK1516F drawn-cup bearing?
Fw is the under-roller diameter — the diameter of the shaft journal on which the needle rollers run directly. For HK1516F, Fw = 15 mm, so the shaft must be machined to 15 mm, hardened to 58–64 HRC and ground, unless a separate IR inner ring is fitted.
Can a HK1516F needle roller bearing carry axial load?
No. Drawn-cup needle roller bearings like HK1516F carry radial load only and provide no axial shaft location. Axial forces must be carried by separate thrust washers or a locating bearing in the arrangement.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog CAT. No. 2203-3/E 2024 on 2026-09-25. Read our editorial & correction policy.