NKI5-16-TN bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NKI5-16-TN is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 5 x 15 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 | 5 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 15 mm |
| Width B | 16 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | polymer (PA66 glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 5.01 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 5.85 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 0.67 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 32000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 36000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 15 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NKI 5/16 TN |
| Standard | DIN 616 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with an inner ring |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with 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. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with 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 & NKI-series range
| Bore d | 0.197 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.591 in |
| Width B | 0.63 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 5 mm |
| Smallest bore in NKI-series | 5 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NKI-series | 130 mm |
| Width range across NKI-series | 12–40 mm |
| Bore position in NKI-series (smallest first) | 1 of 30 |
| Bore above smallest NKI-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the NKI5-16-TN model number is decoded
The machined-ring needle roller bearings with inner ring execution NKI 5/16 TN measures 5×15×16 mm: needle rollers caged between a flanged outer ring and a ground inner ring, used wherever the journal cannot serve as a raceway. The NKI 5/16 TN code gives bore 5 mm and width 16 mm explicitly; unlike the RNA/NK families the shaft only needs a standard k5/j5 seat because the hardened inner ring is the raceway. The 2RS executions of the 49 series carry contact seals on both faces and a wider outer ring — their B and s dimensions differ from the open execution, so housings must be re-checked before substituting. The 15 g catalogue mass and 5.0 mm radial section ((15−5)/2) frame a rating of about 1.00 kN dynamic per millimetre of bore — the needle construction's density advantage over ball bearings of the same envelope. Mounting: heat or press the inner ring onto the 5 mm k5 seat (max 120 °C), fit the flanged outer ring into the H7 housing bore, and check the 16 mm assembly for free rotation before applying load.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- conveyor roller ends and return rollers
- agricultural implement pivots and cutter heads
- electric motor armature shafts with ground seats
- printing and paper-handling rollers
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
- abrasive paste formation from dust ingressing past open ends without effective housing seals
- rolling-contact fatigue spalling after the rated L10 life
- inner-ring raceway spalling after the narrow ring section runs hot with excessive interference
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At Fw 5 mm the rolling elements are under two millimetres long — handle the NKI 5/16 TN like a watch part: one dropped assembly, one over-pressed cup or one coarse journal finish outweighs any catalogue rating difference.
- 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.
- 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.
- The 5.01/5.85 kN ratings and 15 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.4 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 638); 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 NKI 5/16 TN?
A NKI 5/16 TN measures 5 mm bore/Fw × 15 mm outside diameter × 16 mm width (0.197 × 0.591 × 0.63 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 5.01 kN, static C0 5.85 kN, fatigue limit Pu 0.67 kN, limiting speed 36,000 r/min, reference speed 32,000 r/min, mass about 15 g.
How is the NKI 5/16 TN designation read?
The letters mark a machined-ring needle roller bearing with inner ring: 5 mm bore, 16 mm width, 15 mm OD per the series plan. The hardened inner ring is the raceway, so an ordinary k5 shaft seat suffices.
Can the NKI 5/16 TN run on an unhardened shaft?
Yes — that is the point of this family. The NKI 5/16 TN carries its own hardened, ground inner ring on a 5 mm seat, so the shaft needs only a normal k5/j6 finish. The inner ring is separable and replaceable.
How should the NKI 5/16 TN be mounted?
Mount the inner ring on the 5 mm seat first (induction heat, max 120 °C, or press), then fit the flanged outer ring into the H7 housing bore. Verify free rotation and, for 2RS executions, check the wider outer ring against the housing depth.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with an inner ring on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.