K50X55X20 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

The K50X55X20 is a DIN 5402 radial bearing sized 50 x 55 x 20 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.

Bearing dimension schematic Front view shows outer diameter D and bore d; side section shows width B. D = 55 mm d = 50 B = 20 mm side section front view
Principal dimensions: bore d 50 mm, outer diameter D 55 mm, width B 20 mm. Schematic, not to scale.

Specification table

ParameterValue
Brand SKF
Bore diameter d 50 mm
Outer diameter D 55 mm
Width B 20 mm
Material GCr15
Seal / shield open
Internal clearance CN
Tolerance class P0
Cage none
Basic dynamic load rating C 25.5 kN
Basic static load rating C0 60 kN
Fatigue load limit Pu 7.2 kN
Reference speed (thermal) 8500 rpm
Limiting speed (mechanical) 9500 rpm
Operating temperature -40 to +120 °C
Mass 43 g
Manufacturer designation K 50x55x20
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 1.969 in
Outer diameter D 2.165 in
Width B 0.787 in
ISO bore code —
Radial section height (D−d)/2 2.5 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) 21 of 22
Bore above smallest K-series size 47 mm

Cross references & equivalents

No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.

How the K50X55X20 model number is decoded

K 50x55x20 is a needle roller and cage assembly to DIN 5402: a complement of needle rollers held by a lightweight cage, with no inner or outer ring of its own — the 50 mm hardened shaft journal and the 55 mm housing bore serve as the raceways, as tabulated in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000. Reading the designation: K marks the needle roller and cage assembly, the three numbers give Fw 50 (shaft journal), E 55 (assembly outside diameter) and B 20 (width) in millimetres — the machine parts complete the bearing. SKF supplies these assemblies in single rows as tabulated; the cage quality determines the speed ceiling, and the catalogued 9,500 r/min limiting speed assumes a precision ground journal and bore. Catalogue mass 43 g at 50×55×20 mm makes this one of the highest capacity-per-gram choices in the needle roller and cage assemblies; the limit is usually the shaft's ability to serve as a raceway, not the rolling contact itself. Mounting: grind the 50 mm journal to the catalogue raceway tolerance after hardening to 58–64 HRC, bore the housing to E 55 mm H6, and slide the assembly in axially — pressing through the cage distorts it and locks the rollers.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Common applications

  • planetary gear pins in compact transmissions
  • 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

Known failure patterns

  • needle edge loading and raceway denting when the shaft deflects beyond the compensation range
  • 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
  • rolling-contact fatigue spalling after the rated L10 life
  • 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 50 mm bore, verify shaft deflection against the needle length: these rollers tolerate little edge loading, and a simply supported span between 50 mm seats can bend past the compensation range long before the load rating is exhausted.
  • Reference and limiting speeds are different limits: the 8,500 r/min reference is the thermal criterion under load, The limiting value is mechanical; the reference value is thermal under load, and grease choice moves it substantially.
  • Hardness is load capacity: in families without an inner ring the 50 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 25.5/60 kN ratings and 43 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

Does the K 50x55x20 need a hardened and ground shaft?

No. In this execution the 50 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.

What mounting mistakes ruin a K 50x55x20?

Slide the assembly over the ground 50 mm journal with a mounting sleeve, bore the housing to E 55 mm, and retain with a washer spanning the cage. Never press against the cage or rotate before the bearing is lubricated and loaded.

Is the K 50x55x20 sealed?

No — this execution is open and depends on the housing sealing arrangement; grease it at assembly and keep the relubrication interval short in dirty duty.

Which dimensions does the K 50x55x20 have?

A K 50x55x20 measures 50 mm bore/Fw × 55 mm outside diameter × 20 mm width (1.969 × 2.165 × 0.787 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 25.5 kN, static C0 60 kN, fatigue limit Pu 7.2 kN, limiting speed 9,500 r/min, reference speed 8,500 r/min, mass about 43 g.

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.