RNA6901 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The RNA6901 is a ISO 1206 radial bearing sized 16 x 24 x 22 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 16 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 24 mm |
| Width B | 22 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 16.1 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 23.2 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 2.75 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 22000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 26000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 31 g |
| Manufacturer designation | RNA 6901 |
| 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-69-series range
| Bore d | 0.63 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.945 in |
| Width B | 0.866 in |
| ISO bore code | 01 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 4 mm |
| Smallest bore in RNA-69-series | 16 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in RNA-69-series | 130 mm |
| Width range across RNA-69-series | 22–63 mm |
| Bore position in RNA-69-series (smallest first) | 1 of 22 |
| Bore above smallest RNA-69-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the RNA6901 model number is decoded
RNA 6901 is a ribbed machined-ring needle roller bearing (no inner ring) sized 16×24×22 mm: the ground outside diameter seats in the housing, the integral flanges hold the rollers, and the 16 mm shaft journal completes the bearing. The letters identify a flanged machined outer ring without inner ring; the figures give 16 mm Fw and 22 mm B — dimensionally identical envelopes exist with an inner ring under the NA/NKI names, which changes the shaft seat entirely. 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 16.1/23.2 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. 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
- 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
- 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
- grease starvation at the roller ends when relubrication intervals are stretched in dirty duty
- corrosion pitting from condensation in intermittently operated machinery
- smearing of rollers and journal during idle periods because the radial section holds too little lubricant
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On a 16 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 24 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 16.1/23.2 kN ratings and 31 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.3 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 626); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
Can the RNA 6901 run on an unhardened shaft?
No. In this execution the 16 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 6901 be mounted?
Press on the ring faces only with a fitting sleeve, keep everything square to the 16 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.
What limits the service life of a RNA 6901?
Beyond the L10 rating, the practical limits are journal/raceway hardness for the 16 mm seat, lubricant condition at the roller ends, and contamination through open ends — the 4.0 mm radial section leaves no reserve once a raceway is dented or ribboned.
What are the dimensions and ratings of the RNA 6901?
A RNA 6901 measures 16 mm bore/Fw × 24 mm outside diameter × 22 mm width (0.63 × 0.945 × 0.866 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 16.1 kN, static C0 23.2 kN, fatigue limit Pu 2.75 kN, limiting speed 26,000 r/min, reference speed 22,000 r/min, mass about 31 g.
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.