294-560-EM bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 294-560-EM is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 560 x 980 x 250 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 560 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 980 mm |
| Width B | 250 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | brass |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 12000 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 51000 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 3550 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 560 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 810000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 294/560 EM |
| 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 & 29400-series range
| Bore d | 22.047 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 38.583 in |
| Width B | 9.843 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 210 mm |
| Smallest bore in 29400-series | 60 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 29400-series | 1770 mm |
| Width range across 29400-series | 42–426 mm |
| Bore position in 29400-series (smallest first) | 35 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest 29400-series size | 500 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the 294-560-EM model number is decoded
In SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000, 294/560 EM denotes a self-aligning thrust bearing: the sphered back face of the housing washer follows seat misalignment while the machined brass EM cage guides the rollers under 250 mm of axial section. The designation 294/560 EM separates into 294 (series), 560 mm (slash-size) (560 mm bore — bore 560 mm is written directly after the slash) and EM; washers are separable for individual mounting. The contact geometry also accepts simultaneous radial load up to roughly 55 % of the simultaneous axial force; beyond that mix, add a separate radial bearing to the arrangement. One direction only: 294/560 EM 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. Mounting: fit the shaft washer tight on the 560 mm seat, seat the sphered housing washer on its matching (often separately supplied) seating washer, and check the assembly swivels freely before applying the 12000 kN working load.
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
- cage wear from rollers being dragged through unloaded zones under fluctuating thrust
- shaft-washer creep and fretting corrosion on a soft or undersized shaft shoulder
- oil starvation at the sliding contact zones of large spherical roller thrust bearings on forced-feed trips
- hard-particle indentation where oil or grease filtration is inadequate
- roller skidding and raceway glazing once the thrust falls below the catalogue minimum axial load (factor A)
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Above 300 mm bore the minimum load is large (A 250 here): design the preload or lift sequence explicitly — an unloaded slow rotation glazes the 980 mm washer track.
- the 300 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, the 560 r/min limiting speed is the mechanical ceiling; large 294 bearings are normally run well below it with oil cooling.
- 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 294/560 EM.
- Minimum load factor A 250 dominates commissioning: start the oil flow and preload before rotation, especially on 294 bearings where an unloaded cold start smears the rollers.
- 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 12000/51000 kN ratings and 810000 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
How is the 294/560 EM designation read?
294 is the dimension series (heavy 294 series) and 560 mm (slash-size) the 560 mm bore (the bore is written directly after the slash (no bore code)); EM is the cage execution (machined brass EM cage). The sphered housing washer provides self-alignment.
Why is the minimum axial load (A 250) so important?
Spherical roller thrust bearings skid and smear immediately when run unloaded — on large sizes factor A 250 corresponds to a substantial force. Springs, oil lift or the rotor/load weight must be applied before rotation, including cold test runs.
Can the 294/560 EM also carry radial load?
Yes, up to roughly 55 % of the simultaneous axial force, thanks to the steep contact angle of the barrel rollers. Beyond that mix, specify a separate radial bearing; the primary duty remains one-direction thrust.
How is a 294/560 EM mounted?
Tight shaft washer on the 560 mm seat, sphered housing washer on its matching seating washer, induction heating for large sizes, oil at the catalogue level before start, and the factor-A 250 preload verified at commissioning.
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.