K32X38X20 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The K32X38X20 is a DIN 5402 radial bearing sized 32 x 38 x 20 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 32 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 38 mm |
| Width B | 20 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 25.1 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 45 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 5.6 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 12000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 14000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 30 g |
| Manufacturer designation | K 32x38x20 |
| Standard | DIN 5402 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies); 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 & K-series range
| Bore d | 1.26 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.496 in |
| Width B | 0.787 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 3 mm |
| Smallest bore in K-series | 3 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in K-series | 63 mm |
| Width range across K-series | 7–32 mm |
| Bore position in K-series (smallest first) | 12 of 22 |
| Bore above smallest K-series size | 29 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the K32X38X20 model number is decoded
SKF lists K 32x38x20 in the K series of needle roller and cage assemblies: needle rollers caged at 32×38×20 mm, designed to run directly on a ground, hardened shaft and inside a machined housing bore. The designation numbers of K 32x38x20 state the three machine-seat dimensions — 32 mm journal, 38 mm bore-side complement diameter, 20 mm width — which is why ordering errors here show up as a sloppy or seized fit, not as a returned box. The TN suffix marks a glass fibre reinforced PA66 cage snapping the rollers in place — lighter and quieter than steel; assemblies are also supplied unmarked with steel cages for higher temperature duty. Selection arithmetic: C 25.1 kN against C0 45 kN gives a C0/C ratio of 1.79, and the 5.6 kN fatigue load limit Pu sets the floor for the adjusted-life calculation at contaminated lubrication. Lubrication reaches both raceways through the open cage windows; grease the bore and journal before assembly, since after fitting the 20 mm narrow cage cannot be relubricated through a closed housing.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- connecting rods of small compressors where radial height is critical
- rocker arm and rocker pin pivots on camshafts
- pump and gearbox idler gears running on hardened pins
- hinge and pivot joints in printing and textile machinery
Known failure patterns
- raceway spalling once the catalogue L10 life is exceeded or after overload events
- cage pocket wear and roller skew after sustained operation with too little radial preload
- grease starvation at the roller ends when relubrication intervals are stretched in dirty duty
- electrical erosion on VFD-driven shafts without brush or insulated mounting
- rapid raceway scoring when the shaft journal hardness drops below 58 HRC or the ground finish wears away
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 32 mm bore, verify shaft deflection against the needle length: these rollers tolerate little edge loading, and a simply supported span between 32 mm seats can bend past the compensation range long before the load rating is exhausted.
- Hardness is load capacity: in families without an inner ring the 32 mm journal must hold 58–64 HRC with a ground finish; a surface that looks fine but sits at 45 HRC will rib the raceway within weeks.
- The quoted 25.1/45 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (K 32x38x20); ratings can be revised without the order number changing, so keep the catalogue version (SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000) with the drawing.
- The 25.1/45 kN ratings and 30 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 618); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and ratings of the K 32x38x20?
A K 32x38x20 measures 32 mm bore/Fw × 38 mm outside diameter × 20 mm width (1.26 × 1.496 × 0.787 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 25.1 kN, static C0 45 kN, fatigue limit Pu 5.6 kN, limiting speed 14,000 r/min, reference speed 12,000 r/min, mass about 30 g.
How is the K 32x38x20 designation read?
K = needle roller and cage assembly (DIN 5402); the three figures give Fw 32 mm (shaft journal), E 38 mm (complement outside diameter, matched by the housing bore) and B 20 mm width. TN marks the glass fibre reinforced PA66 cage.
Can the K 32x38x20 run on an unhardened shaft?
No. In this execution the 32 mm shaft journal is the inner raceway: it must be ground and hardened to 58–64 HRC (with matching housing bore quality on the outside). If the shaft cannot meet that, order the inner-ring sibling (NKI/NA execution) plus its ground inner ring instead.
How should the K 32x38x20 be mounted?
Slide the assembly over the ground 32 mm journal with a mounting sleeve, bore the housing to E 38 mm, and retain with a washer spanning the cage. Never press against the cage or rotate before the bearing is lubricated and loaded.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.