293-500 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 293-500 is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 500 x 750 x 150 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 500 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 750 mm |
| Width B | 150 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 4490 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 20400 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 1560 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 430 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 800 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 235000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 293/500 |
| Standard | ISO 104 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings |
| Last verified | 2026-09-27 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings) · extracted 2026-09-27
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings); 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 & 29300-series range
| Bore d | 19.685 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 29.528 in |
| Width B | 5.906 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 125 mm |
| Smallest bore in 29300-series | 85 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 29300-series | 1180 mm |
| Width range across 29300-series | 39–230 mm |
| Bore position in 29300-series (smallest first) | 27 of 31 |
| Bore above smallest 29300-series size | 415 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the 293-500 model number is decoded
Where a cylindrical roller thrust bearing would edge-load under deflection, 293/500 aligns itself: 500×750×150 mm envelope, 20400 kN static rating, one load direction. SKF suffixes on spherical roller thrust bearings describe cages: E the steel window cage for the larger sizes, EM the machined brass execution, EF the extra-large steel-cage design; 293/500 is the steel cage of the earlier standard design. The medium 293 series is typically oil-bath or forced-oil lubricated in the large sizes: the pumping action of the barrel rollers drives oil through the contact, and interrupted oil supply damages the bearing fastest. One direction only: 293/500 cannot be reversed to take opposite thrust — mirror a second bearing for reversing shafts, and keep housing and shaft seats square within the ISO 104 tolerances. Verify the minimum axial load (factor A 40) immediately at commissioning — a cold start unloaded smears the rollers; spring preload or rotor weight must be present before the shaft rotates.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- paper machine calender and refiner discs with combined axial and radial force
- crane hook assemblies where the hook block turns under full load
- injection moulding machine and extruder screw thrust positions
- vertical hydro generators and large vertical pump motors
Known failure patterns
- smearing at roller-raceway contacts during unloaded startup before the oil film or preload is established
- housing-washer rotation scored into an unmachined or loose seating face
- oil starvation at the sliding contact zones of large spherical roller thrust bearings on forced-feed trips
- false brinelling and rust-red witness marks on standby machines under external vibration
- cage wear from rollers being dragged through unloaded zones under fluctuating thrust
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Above 300 mm bore the minimum load is large (A 40 here): design the preload or lift sequence explicitly — an unloaded slow rotation glazes the 750 mm washer track.
- The spherical seat tolerates static misalignment, not a continuously rocking housing — a loose sphered seat frets under oscillation and needs the catalogue seat tolerances plus clean, greased contact.
- the 430 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, the 800 r/min limiting speed is the mechanical ceiling; large 293 bearings are normally run well below it with oil cooling.
- Minimum load factor A 40 dominates commissioning: start the oil flow and preload before rotation, especially on 293 bearings where an unloaded cold start smears the rollers.
- Radial force beyond the permitted fraction of simultaneous thrust (about 0.55·F_a) overloads one side of the barrel-roller set — add a radial bearing instead of leaning on 293/500.
- The 4490/20400 kN ratings and 235000 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 13.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 928); mounting data — the minimum axial load factor A — appears in the running text because the structured record carries the boundary envelope only.
Frequently asked questions
What destroys a spherical roller thrust bearing?
Unloaded rotation below A 40 (roller smearing), interrupted oil supply on the large sizes, a missing sphered seating washer that removes alignment, and contamination. Limiting speed here is 800 r/min.
Which dimensions does the 293/500 have?
A 293/500 measures 500 mm bore × 750 mm outside diameter × 150 mm width (19.685 × 29.528 × 5.906 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 4490 kN, static C0 20400 kN, fatigue limit Pu 1560 kN, reference speed 430 r/min, limiting speed 800 r/min, mass about 235000 g. Minimum axial load factor A 40 must be maintained in service.
What is the difference between 292, 293 and 294 series?
292 is the light, fastest section; 293 the medium; 294 the heaviest with the largest OD per bore and the greatest thrust capacity. 293/500 is the medium 293 series, 500×750×150 mm.
What do E, EM and EF mean on 293/500?
They are cage designs for different size bands: E is the stamped steel window cage of the current design, EM the machined brass cage for heavy/slow sizes, EF the steel cage for extra-large bearings — not quality grades. This bearing carries the steel cage of the earlier standard design.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings on 2026-09-27. Read our editorial & correction policy.