RNA4904 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

The RNA4904 is a ISO 1206 radial bearing sized 25 x 37 x 17 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 = 37 mm d = 25 B = 17 mm side section front view
Principal dimensions: bore d 25 mm, outer diameter D 37 mm, width B 17 mm. Schematic, not to scale.

Specification table

ParameterValue
Brand SKF
Bore diameter d 25 mm
Outer diameter D 37 mm
Width B 17 mm
Material GCr15
Seal / shield open
Internal clearance CN
Tolerance class P0
Cage none
Basic dynamic load rating C 21.6 kN
Basic static load rating C0 28 kN
Fatigue load limit Pu 3.35 kN
Reference speed (thermal) 15000 rpm
Limiting speed (mechanical) 17000 rpm
Operating temperature -40 to +120 °C
Mass 52 g
Manufacturer designation RNA 4904
Standard ISO 1206
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 & RNA-49-series range

Bore d 0.984 in
Outer diameter D 1.457 in
Width B 0.669 in
ISO bore code 04
Radial section height (D−d)/2 6 mm
Smallest bore in RNA-49-series 14 mm
Largest outer diameter in RNA-49-series 190 mm
Width range across RNA-49-series 13–50 mm
Bore position in RNA-49-series (smallest first) 5 of 28
Bore above smallest RNA-49-series size 11 mm

Cross references & equivalents

Equivalent modelBrandMatch levelNote
RNA4904-2RS SKF partial
Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ.
Same 25×37×17 mm envelope, but catalogue C/C0 differ between the executions (21.6/28 vs 19.4/22.4 kN) — boundary dimensions match, not a load-rating equivalent.

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 RNA4904 model number is decoded

Where the shaft can be hardened and ground, SKF offers RNA 4904 in the dimension series 49 needle roller bearings without inner ring: outer ring only, needle rollers caged between integral flanges, 25 mm bore seat and 37 mm OD. The RNA 4904 code states Fw 25 and width 17 mm directly; because the family has no inner ring, the 25 mm journal must be ground, hardened to 58–64 HRC and finished to the raceway tolerance the catalogue specifies. The machined ring is through-hardened and ground on OD, bore-side raceway and faces; the flanged lip design means the housing shoulder can be omitted — the ring clamps axially between housing wall and cover washer. Catalogue mass 52 g at 25×37×17 mm makes this one of the highest capacity-per-gram choices in the dimension series 49 needle roller bearings without inner ring; the limit is usually the shaft's ability to serve as a raceway, not the rolling contact itself. 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

  • cam followers built up from separate components
  • crank pins and eccentrics where the hardened journal is the raceway
  • gearbox planetary and idler gears on hardened pins
  • piston-pin style pivots in hydraulic pumps

Known failure patterns

  • raceway spalling once the catalogue L10 life is exceeded or after overload events
  • 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 25 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 37 mm ring or cup into a lobed shape, and the rollers then trace the housing's geometry error, not the design load.
  • 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 21.6/28 kN ratings and 52 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 are the dimensions and ratings of the RNA 4904?

A RNA 4904 measures 25 mm bore/Fw × 37 mm outside diameter × 17 mm width (0.984 × 1.457 × 0.669 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 21.6 kN, static C0 28 kN, fatigue limit Pu 3.35 kN, limiting speed 17,000 r/min, reference speed 15,000 r/min, mass about 52 g.

How is the RNA 4904 designation read?

RNA names a machined-ring needle roller bearing without inner ring: the figures give Fw 25 mm and width 17 mm, OD 37 mm comes from the dimension series, and the flanged outer ring retains the caged rollers.

Can the RNA 4904 run on an unhardened shaft?

No. In this execution the 25 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.

How should the RNA 4904 be mounted?

Press on the ring faces only with a fitting sleeve, keep everything square to the 25 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.

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.