29480-EM bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 29480-EM is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 400 x 710 x 185 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 400 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 710 mm |
| Width B | 185 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | brass |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 7650 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 26500 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 1960 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 480 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 850 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 310000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 29480 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 | 15.748 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 27.953 in |
| Width B | 7.283 in |
| ISO bore code | 80 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 155 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) | 28 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest 29400-series size | 340 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the 29480-EM model number is decoded
SKF supplies 29480 EM for very heavy one-direction axial load: 7650 kN dynamic and 26500 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; 29480 EM is the machined brass EM cage. A minimum axial load of factor A 62 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. The 310000 g mass and 185 mm axial height sit between 400 and 710 mm washer diameters; check the seat shoulder spans the full ring face — a narrow shoulder causes washer fretting long before fatigue does. Large 294 bearings go on with induction heating (max 120 °C) and oil injection features on tapered seats; never strike the machined brass EM cage, and fill the oil bath to the catalogue level before first start.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- coal mill, cement mill and sugar mill thrust bearings under shock load
- marine shaft and rudder-style thrust positions with seat deflection
- paper machine calender and refiner discs with combined axial and radial force
- crane hook assemblies where the hook block turns under full load
Known failure patterns
- smearing at roller-raceway contacts during unloaded startup before the oil film or preload is established
- 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
- 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 62 here): design the preload or lift sequence explicitly — an unloaded slow rotation glazes the 710 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 480 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, the 850 r/min limiting speed is the mechanical ceiling; large 294 bearings are normally run well below it with oil cooling.
- The 7650/26500 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 62 dominates commissioning: start the oil flow and preload before rotation, especially on 294 bearings where an unloaded cold start smears the rollers.
- The 7650/26500 kN ratings and 310000 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 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. 29480 EM is the heavy 294 series, 400×710×185 mm.
What do E, EM and EF mean on 29480 EM?
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 machined brass EM cage.
Where is the 29480 EM 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 62 (roller smearing), interrupted oil supply on the large sizes, a missing sphered seating washer that removes alignment, and contamination. Limiting speed here is 850 r/min.
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.