294-900-EF bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 294-900-EF is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 900 x 1520 x 372 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 900 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 1520 mm |
| Width B | 372 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 26700 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 122000 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 7200 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 160 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 300 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 2650000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 294/900 EF |
| 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 | 35.433 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 59.843 in |
| Width B | 14.646 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 310 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) | 43 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest 29400-series size | 840 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the 294-900-EF model number is decoded
SKF supplies 294/900 EF for very heavy one-direction axial load: 26700 kN dynamic and 122000 kN static, with the spherical seat absorbing shaft deflection and some simultaneous radial force. 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; 294/900 EF is the extra-large steel EF cage. A minimum axial load of factor A 1400 must be maintained — in the large 294 sizes this is a real force (often supplied by springs, oil pressure or the rotor weight), below it the rollers skid and smear. One direction only: 294/900 EF 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. Large 294 bearings go on with induction heating (max 120 °C) and oil injection features on tapered seats; never strike the extra-large steel EF cage, and fill the oil bath to the catalogue level before first start.
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
- roller skidding and raceway glazing once the thrust falls below the catalogue minimum axial load (factor A)
- washer back-face fretting where the seat is too narrow to support the full ring face
- oil starvation at the sliding contact zones of large spherical roller thrust bearings on forced-feed trips
- electrical erosion of raceways on VFD-driven shafts without grounding or insulation
- smearing at roller-raceway contacts during unloaded startup before the oil film or preload is established
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 900 mm bore and 2650 kg, mounting is a rigging operation: sphered seats, oil injection and rotation checks under preload follow the large-bearing mounting manual, not general practice.
- 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 294/900 EF.
- E, EM and EF suffixes are cage designs for different size bands, not quality grades: substitute only within the same envelope and check the lubricant compatibility of the cage material.
- The 26700/122000 kN figures assume the matching sphered seating washer is fitted where the catalogue calls for it; a flat housing seat removes the self-aligning function.
- Minimum load factor A 1400 dominates commissioning: start the oil flow and preload before rotation, especially on 294 bearings where an unloaded cold start smears the rollers.
- The 26700/122000 kN ratings and 2650000 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 13.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 930); 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 do E, EM and EF mean on 294/900 EF?
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 extra-large steel EF cage.
Where is the 294/900 EF typically used?
Crane hook blocks, extruder and injection-moulding screws, vertical hydro generators, large gearbox thrust positions and heavy mill shafts — places with very high one-direction axial load plus shaft deflection.
What destroys a spherical roller thrust bearing?
Unloaded rotation below A 1400 (roller smearing), interrupted oil supply on the large sizes, a missing sphered seating washer that removes alignment, and contamination. Limiting speed here is 300 r/min.
Which dimensions does the 294/900 EF have?
A 294/900 EF measures 900 mm bore × 1520 mm outside diameter × 372 mm width (35.433 × 59.843 × 14.646 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 26700 kN, static C0 122000 kN, fatigue limit Pu 7200 kN, reference speed 160 r/min, limiting speed 300 r/min, mass about 2650000 g. Minimum axial load factor A 1400 must be maintained in service.
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.