NKI90-36 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

The NKI90-36 is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 90 x 120 x 36 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 = 120 mm d = 90 B = 36 mm side section front view
Principal dimensions: bore d 90 mm, outer diameter D 120 mm, width B 36 mm. Schematic, not to scale.

Specification table

ParameterValue
Brand SKF
Bore diameter d 90 mm
Outer diameter D 120 mm
Width B 36 mm
Material GCr15
Seal / shield open
Internal clearance CN
Tolerance class P0
Cage none
Basic dynamic load rating C 108 kN
Basic static load rating C0 250 kN
Fatigue load limit Pu 31 kN
Reference speed (thermal) 4000 rpm
Limiting speed (mechanical) 4500 rpm
Operating temperature -40 to +120 °C
Mass 1100 g
Manufacturer designation NKI 90/36
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 3.543 in
Outer diameter D 4.724 in
Width B 1.417 in
ISO bore code —
Radial section height (D−d)/2 15 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) 28 of 30
Bore above smallest NKI-series size 85 mm

Cross references & equivalents

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

How the NKI90-36 model number is decoded

In SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000, NKI 90/36 denotes a complete needle roller bearing for a 90 mm shaft — machined inner and outer rings, integral flanges on the outer ring retaining the roller set, 120 mm OD and 36 mm width. The designation NKI 90/36 tells you the envelope — 90×120×36 mm — and the family tells you the construction: complete bearing, replaceable inner ring, flanged outer ring retaining the needle rollers. Inner rings are separable: order replacement inner rings separately by d×D×B, since the outer ring and roller assembly survive journals that ruin an inner raceway. Minimum load matters: below roughly 0.02·C the rollers skid and smear; preloading the pivot or specifying a heavier execution avoids the glazing that pure oscillation produces on these raceways. Mounting: heat or press the inner ring onto the 90 mm k5 seat (max 120 °C), fit the flanged outer ring into the H7 housing bore, and check the 36 mm assembly for free rotation before applying load.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Common applications

  • electric motor armature shafts with ground seats
  • printing and paper-handling rollers
  • gearbox shafts where the journal cannot be hardened on site
  • wheel and lever pivots needing a replaceable inner ring

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
  • grease starvation at the roller ends when relubrication intervals are stretched in dirty duty
  • rolling-contact fatigue spalling after the rated L10 life
  • inner-ring bore fretting on a loose shaft seat, migrating hard particles into the rolling contact

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

  • Above 50 mm bore, thermal growth matters: the 90 mm inner ring or journal grows with temperature faster than the housing, and the small clearance of a needle roller contact leaves little reserve — check running clearance hot, not just at assembly.
  • Hardness is load capacity: in families without an inner ring the 90 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 quoted 108/250 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (NKI 90/36); ratings can be revised without the order number changing, so keep the catalogue version (SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000) with the drawing.
  • The 108/250 kN ratings and 1100 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.4 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 644); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.

Frequently asked questions

Can the NKI 90/36 run on an unhardened shaft?

Yes — that is the point of this family. The NKI 90/36 carries its own hardened, ground inner ring on a 90 mm seat, so the shaft needs only a normal k5/j6 finish. The inner ring is separable and replaceable.

How should the NKI 90/36 be mounted?

Mount the inner ring on the 90 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.

What limits the service life of a NKI 90/36?

Beyond the L10 rating, the practical limits are journal/raceway hardness for the 90 mm seat, lubricant condition at the roller ends, and contamination through open ends — the 15.0 mm radial section leaves no reserve once a raceway is dented or ribboned.

What are the dimensions and ratings of the NKI 90/36?

A NKI 90/36 measures 90 mm bore/Fw × 120 mm outside diameter × 36 mm width (3.543 × 4.724 × 1.417 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 108 kN, static C0 250 kN, fatigue limit Pu 31 kN, limiting speed 4,500 r/min, reference speed 4,000 r/min, mass about 1100 g.

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.