NK22-20 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NK22-20 is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 22 x 30 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 | 22 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 30 mm |
| Width B | 20 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 17.9 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 29 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 3.55 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 18000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 20000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 37 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NK 22/20 |
| 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 | 0.866 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.181 in |
| Width B | 0.787 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) | 16 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest NK-series size | 17 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the NK22-20 model number is decoded
Where the shaft can be hardened and ground, SKF offers NK 22/20 in the machined-ring needle roller bearings without inner ring: outer ring only, needle rollers caged between integral flanges, 22 mm bore seat and 30 mm OD. In SKF nomenclature NK families drop the inner ring: the numbers after the letters give the 22 mm under-roller diameter and the 20 mm width, with the 30 mm outside diameter set by the machined-ring needle roller bearings without inner ring plan. SKF offers this family open as standard; a matching IR inner ring can be added separately when the shaft cannot be hardened, which converts the envelope into the NKI/NA equivalent. For life calculation, the 17.9/29 kN ratings assume raceway geometry supplied by the shaft and housing in families without an inner ring — journal hardness, roundness and finish are part of the bearing, not of the application. Grease through the housing groove before fitting the shaft; the integral flanges hold the grease film at the roller ends, which is where these bearings first starve.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- guide rollers running on hardened tracks
- swing arms and lever pivots with oscillating duty
- cam followers built up from separate components
- crank pins and eccentrics where the hardened journal is the raceway
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
- 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
- On a 22 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 30 mm ring or cup into a lobed shape, and the rollers then trace the housing's geometry error, not the design load.
- The quoted 17.9/29 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (NK 22/20); ratings can be revised without the order number changing, so keep the catalogue version (SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000) with the drawing.
- Oscillating pivots fail differently: rocking through a small angle concentrates wear in the same roller positions — inspect those zones, and consider rotating the assembly's clock position at service intervals.
- The 17.9/29 kN ratings and 37 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.3 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 628); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
What does NK 22/20 mean in SKF part numbering?
NK names a machined-ring needle roller bearing without inner ring: the figures give Fw 22 mm and width 20 mm, OD 30 mm comes from the dimension series, and the flanged outer ring retains the caged rollers.
Does the NK 22/20 need a hardened and ground shaft?
No. In this execution the 22 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 22/20?
Press on the ring faces only with a fitting sleeve, keep everything square to the 22 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 22/20 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.