NK17-16 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NK17-16 is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 17 x 25 x 16 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 17 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 25 mm |
| Width B | 16 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 12.1 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 16.6 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 1.96 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 22000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 26000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 24 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NK 17/16 |
| Standard | DIN 616 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring); 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 & NK-series range
| Bore d | 0.669 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.984 in |
| Width B | 0.63 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 4 mm |
| Smallest bore in NK-series | 5 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NK-series | 130 mm |
| Width range across NK-series | 10–40 mm |
| Bore position in NK-series (smallest first) | 11 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest NK-series size | 12 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the NK17-16 model number is decoded
NK 17/16 is a machined-ring needle roller bearing without an inner ring: a solid outer ring with integral flanges guiding the caged rollers, riding directly on a 17 mm hardened shaft journal, as listed in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000. In SKF nomenclature NK families drop the inner ring: the numbers after the letters give the 17 mm under-roller diameter and the 16 mm width, with the 25 mm outside diameter set by the machined-ring needle roller bearings without inner ring plan. The wide NKS/NKIS siblings share the Fw and OD but add width for higher ratings — check both when the radial space allows a wider seat. The 24 g catalogue mass and 4.0 mm radial section ((25−17)/2) frame a rating of about 0.71 kN dynamic per millimetre of bore — the needle construction's density advantage over ball bearings of the same envelope. Mounting: the flanged outer ring presses into the H7 housing bore against its flange face; the shaft (hardened to 58–64 HRC, ground) enters afterwards, and axial retention is by the housing wall plus a cover washer.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- piston-pin style pivots in hydraulic pumps
- guide rollers running on hardened tracks
- swing arms and lever pivots with oscillating duty
- cam followers built up from separate components
Known failure patterns
- needle edge loading and raceway denting when the shaft deflects beyond the compensation range
- polymer cage deformation when the local temperature exceeds the 120 °C sustained limit
- abrasive paste formation from dust ingressing past open ends without effective housing seals
- corrosion pitting from condensation in intermittently operated machinery
- rapid raceway scoring when the shaft journal hardness drops below 58 HRC or the ground finish wears away
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On a 17 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 25 mm ring or cup into a lobed shape, and the rollers then trace the housing's geometry error, not the design load.
- Contamination, not fatigue, kills most small needle bearings: with raceways this narrow, one hard particle dents a full-width line — seal the housing even when the bearing execution itself is open.
- Do not interchange envelope-identical needle families blindly: NK 17/16 shares its 17×25×16 mm outline with inner-ring and sealed siblings whose ratings differ — the family letters are part of the specification, not decoration.
- The 12.1/16.6 kN ratings and 24 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.3 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 626); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
What does NK 17/16 mean in SKF part numbering?
NK names a machined-ring needle roller bearing without inner ring: the figures give Fw 17 mm and width 16 mm, OD 25 mm comes from the dimension series, and the flanged outer ring retains the caged rollers.
Does the NK 17/16 need a hardened and ground shaft?
No. In this execution the 17 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 NK 17/16?
Press on the ring faces only with a fitting sleeve, keep everything square to the 17 mm seat, and never transmit force through the rolling elements. Follow the catalogue's seat tolerances — the narrow needle contact forgives neither tilt nor burrs.
Is the NK 17/16 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.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.