HK2020F bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The HK2020F is a ISO 3245 radial bearing sized 20 x 26 x 20 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 20 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 26 mm |
| Width B | 20 mm |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 16 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 26.2 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 3.2 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 8000 rpm |
| Mass | 24 g |
| Manufacturer designation | HK2020F |
| 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 | 0.787 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.024 in |
| Width B | 0.787 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) | 16 of 24 |
| Bore above smallest HK-series size | 17 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the HK2020F model number is decoded
In the HK-series (ISO 3245), HK2020F is NTN's open-end drawn-cup needle roller bearing.Boundary dimensions are 20 mm under-roller diameter (Fw — the shaft journal acts as the raceway), 26 mm cup outside diameter and 20 mm width. 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. Mid-size drawn cups like this appear throughout passenger-car and light-truck transmissions, pressed into cast housings where a machined ring would not fit. Marine outboard and small diesel linkage points use this size: the pressed-in cup tolerates the corrosion-prone environment better than a machined ring with a separate inner race. In high-speed applications, switch from grease to a circulating oil supply: the open ends let oil through, but grease at high speed channels and overheats the roller set.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- universal joint and steering pivots
- automotive manual transmission gear sets
- industrial gearbox lay shafts
- continuous high-speed rotation where grease redistribution is the limiting factor
Known failure patterns
- cup cracking from an oval or tapered housing bore distorting the thin shell
- fretting of the cup outer surface in a soft or worn housing seat
- scoring of the needle rollers from abrasive contamination past the open ends
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Drawn-cup needle bearings carry radial load only: HK2020F provides no axial shaft location — use separate thrust washers or a locating bearing for axial forces.
- The HK2020F 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.
- Mid-size cups like HK2020F (20 mm shaft) inherit the shape of their seat: a scored or oval housing bore from the previous bearing will cut the new bearing's life short.
- The cage in HK2020F 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 20 mm.
- The 20 mm wide section of HK2020F gains rating through longer rollers at 20 mm shaft; confirm the housing width accepts 20 mm — it will not drop into a seat machined for the 20×26 mm narrow variant.
Frequently asked questions
Does HK2020F need a hardened shaft?
Either the 20 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 (IR17x20x20.5) so a standard unhardened shaft can be used.
What duty conditions suit a HK2020F drawn-cup bearing?
HK2020F is typically specified for intermittent duty with long standstill periods that invite false brinelling; match the grease/oil speed limits (8000/12000 rpm) and radial load against the actual duty before finalizing.
What are the dimensions of a HK2020F needle roller bearing?
A HK2020F drawn-cup needle roller bearing has a 20 mm shaft diameter (Fw, under-roller diameter), 26 mm outside diameter and 20 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 HK2020F drawn-cup bearing?
Fw is the under-roller diameter — the diameter of the shaft journal on which the needle rollers run directly. For HK2020F, Fw = 20 mm, so the shaft must be machined to 20 mm, hardened to 58–64 HRC and ground, unless a separate IR inner ring is fitted.
Can a HK2020F needle roller bearing carry axial load?
No. Drawn-cup needle roller bearings like HK2020F 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.