NKI50-25-XL bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

The NKI50-25-XL is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 50 x 68 x 25 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 = 68 mm d = 50 B = 25 mm side section front view
Principal dimensions: bore d 50 mm, outer diameter D 68 mm, width B 25 mm. Schematic, not to scale.

Specification table

ParameterValue
Brand FAG
Bore diameter d 50 mm
Outer diameter D 68 mm
Width B 25 mm
Material GCr15
Seal / shield open
Internal clearance CN
Tolerance class P0
Cage steel
Basic dynamic load rating C 45.5 kN
Basic static load rating C0 82 kN
Fatigue load limit Pu 14.3 kN
Reference speed (thermal) 4950 rpm
Limiting speed (mechanical) 8400 rpm
Operating temperature -40 to +120 °C
Mass 270 g
Manufacturer designation NKI50/25-XL
Standard ISO 15
Catalog version HR1 2026-09-25
Last verified 2026-09-30

Source: catalog reference (HR1 2026-09-25) · extracted 2026-09-30

Parameters extracted from the official FAG Rolling Bearings catalogue (HR1 2026-09-25); FAG® is a trademark of Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized FAG/Schaeffler distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at schaeffler.com.

Dimensions in inches & nki-series range

Bore d 1.969 in
Outer diameter D 2.677 in
Width B 0.984 in
ISO bore code —
Radial section height (D−d)/2 9 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) 20 of 30
Bore above smallest nki-series size 45 mm

Cross references & equivalents

Equivalent modelBrandMatch levelNote
NKI50-25 SKF partial
Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ.
Same 50×68×25 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting.
NKI50-35 SKF verify
Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering.
Model-number interchange per ISO 15; confirm dimensions, sealing and ratings in the supplier catalogue.

Interchange levels: full standard interchange · partial verify parameters · verify manual confirmation required. Links resolve to the equivalent model's specification page where available.

How the NKI50-25-XL model number is decoded

envelope 50×68×25 mm: 50 mm bore accepts a normal-tolerance machined shaft via the integral inner ring, with a thin 9.0 mm radial section packed with small-diameter needle rollers C is 45.5 kN and C0 82 kN at the 50 mm seat; the C/C0 ratio of 0.55 is characteristic of a needle bearing — high static rating relative to dynamic in a compact 68 mm outside diameter the fatigue load limit Cur is 14.3 kN, the limiting speed 8,400 r/min and the thermal reference speed 4,950 r/min; for small needle bearings the reference speed can exceed the kinematic limit, so the lower of the two governs the application dynamic capacity per millimetre of bore is 0.91 kN/mm and per millimetre of width 1.82 kN/mm — the reason 25 mm-wide needle bearings routinely replace much larger ball or roller positions mass is 270 g, just 0.16 g per mm² of projected 68×25 mm envelope, which keeps unbalanced forces low in fast-actuating linkages the 50 mm bore places this bearing in the medium band, where the 68 mm envelope already carries ratings in the tens of kilonewtons The inner ring is separable, so the outer-ring/roller assembly can be pressed into the housing first; the 82 kN C0 rating still assumes full rigid support under both rings -XL means this is an X-life bearing — Schaeffler's upgraded performance level with smoother raceways, so the 45.5 kN C rating and longer nominal life come without an envelope change. Typical applications include textile machine heald and cam shafts, agricultural machine pivots and linkages and connecting-rod small ends, where the 68 mm outside diameter and 45.5 kN dynamic rating match the duty. In textile machine heald and cam shafts the unit fits a compact 50 mm seat, and in agricultural machine pivots and linkages the 270 g mass keeps unbalanced forces low in fast linkages. Designers also specify it for connecting-rod small ends, relying on the 25 mm width and the published 82 kN static rating. Do not press an RNA/NK assembly in through the outer ring when mounting it on a shaft, and vice versa — rolling forces through the wrong ring bruises the raceways. On reciprocating duty ensure the stroke rotates the full needle set, or brinelling occurs at the same roller positions.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Common applications

  • rocker arms and valve trains
  • textile machine heald and cam shafts
  • small electric motor accessory drives
  • planetary gear bearings

Known failure patterns

  • journal brinelling when a no-inner-ring bearing runs on a shaft hardened below 58 HRC or finished too rough
  • needle skewing and jamming after momentary unloading of a flangeless (RNAO/NAO) pack
  • raceway pitting from contamination drawn through the open ends of an unsealed bearing
  • edge loading at the roller ends from a tapered or lobed shaft seat
  • cage damage from shock loading or from pressing the bearing through the wrong ring
  • lubricant starvation on fast reciprocating strokes that never fully rotate the needles
  • false brinelling during stationary transport vibration
  • spalling from excessive interference that removes the radial clearance
  • roller wear from misaligned connecting-rod eyes and rocker bores

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

  • Do not press an RNA/NK assembly in through the outer ring when mounting it on a shaft, and vice versa — rolling forces through the wrong ring bruises the raceways.
  • On reciprocating duty ensure the stroke rotates the full needle set, or brinelling occurs at the same roller positions.
  • Adding an IR inner ring changes the envelope logic: the same outer assembly then fits a smaller shaft — recheck bore, clearance and ratings when substituting.

Frequently asked questions

What are the dimensions of the NKI50/25-XL?

The NKI50/25-XL is a NKI machined-ring needle roller bearing with inner ring with 68 mm outside diameter, 50 mm bore and 25 mm width, envelope 50×68×25 mm. Mass is 270 g.

What does the NKI50/25-XL designation mean in the FAG/INA HR1 catalogue?

NKI50/25-XL identifies this NKI machined-ring needle roller bearing with inner ring in the Schaeffler HR1 rolling bearings catalogue; the -XL suffix marks the X-life execution. The envelope is 50×68×25 mm and the catalogue ratings are C 45.5 kN, C0 82 kN, Cur 14.3 kN.

What is the load capacity of the NKI50/25-XL?

The basic dynamic load rating C is 45.5 kN and the basic static load rating C0 is 82 kN; the fatigue load limit Cur is 14.3 kN.

What is the maximum speed of the NKI50/25-XL?

The limiting speed is 8,400 r/min and the thermal reference speed is 4,950 r/min. In the Schaeffler catalogue the reference speed is the thermally permissible running speed under defined load; the lower of the two values governs each application.

How is the NKI50/25-XL mounted on the shaft?

The integral inner ring accepts an ordinary ground shaft at the 50 mm nominal bore with the recommended normal bearing-seat tolerance; no hardening is required. The ring is separable, so the outer assembly can be pressed into the housing first and the inner ring fitted with the shaft.

Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog HR1 2026-09-25 on 2026-09-30. Read our editorial & correction policy.