29438-E bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 29438-E is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 190 x 380 x 115 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 190 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 380 mm |
| Width B | 115 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 2850 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 8000 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 765 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 950 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1700 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 60500 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 29438 E |
| 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 | 7.48 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 14.961 in |
| Width B | 4.528 in |
| ISO bore code | 38 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 95 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) | 17 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest 29400-series size | 130 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the 29438-E model number is decoded
The heavy 294 series bearing 29438 E carries 2850 kN of thrust on barrel rollers whose contact angle also tolerates radial force up to a fraction of the applied thrust — the standard heavy-duty thrust bearing for 190 mm shafts. The designation 29438 E separates into 294 (series), 38 (190 mm bore) and E; washers are separable for individual mounting. A minimum axial load of factor A 6.1 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. Speed planning separates the 950 r/min thermal reference from the 1,700 r/min mechanical limiting speed. Thrust bearings govern the thermal speed of many vertical arrangements, and oil circulation raises the usable speed substantially above grease values. Large 294 bearings go on with induction heating (max 120 °C) and oil injection features on tapered seats; never strike the stamped steel E window cage, and fill the oil bath to the catalogue level before first start.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- injection moulding machine and extruder screw thrust positions
- vertical hydro generators and large vertical pump motors
- coal mill, cement mill and sugar mill thrust bearings under shock load
- marine shaft and rudder-style thrust positions with seat deflection
Known failure patterns
- smearing at roller-raceway contacts during unloaded startup before the oil film or preload is established
- shaft-washer creep and fretting corrosion on a soft or undersized shaft shoulder
- abrasive paste forming as dust bypasses the housing seals into the open washer set
- brinelling of washer raceways from impact or mounting force applied through the rolling elements
- cage wear from rollers being dragged through unloaded zones under fluctuating thrust
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 190 mm bore, oil flow becomes the design variable: the 2850 kN rating assumes fresh oil at the contact, and a blocked feed groove halves real life.
- 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 2850/8000 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 6.1 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 2850/8000 kN ratings and 60500 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 13.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 926); 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
Can the 29438 E 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 29438 E mounted?
Tight shaft washer on the 190 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 6.1 preload verified at commissioning.
What are the dimensions and ratings of the 29438 E?
A 29438 E measures 190 mm bore × 380 mm outside diameter × 115 mm width (7.48 × 14.961 × 4.528 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 2850 kN, static C0 8000 kN, fatigue limit Pu 765 kN, reference speed 950 r/min, limiting speed 1,700 r/min, mass about 60500 g. Minimum axial load factor A 6.1 must be maintained in service.
How is the 29438 E designation read?
294 is the dimension series (heavy 294 series) and 38 the 190 mm bore (code 38 × 5); E is the cage execution (stamped steel E window cage). The sphered housing washer provides self-alignment.
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.