29496-EM bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 29496-EM is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 480 x 850 x 224 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 480 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 850 mm |
| Width B | 224 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | brass |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 9550 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 39000 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 2800 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 340 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 670 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 550000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 29496 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 | 18.898 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 33.465 in |
| Width B | 8.819 in |
| ISO bore code | 96 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 185 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) | 32 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest 29400-series size | 420 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the 29496-EM model number is decoded
The heavy 294 series bearing 29496 EM carries 9550 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 480 mm shafts. In 29496 EM, the 294 series fixes the 850 mm OD and 224 mm height — 294 is the heaviest section per bore, 292 the lightest and fastest — and 96 selects the 480 mm seat. 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. Minimum axial load is explicit at factor A 140: below F_am = A·n² (or the catalogue's slow-speed floor) the barrel rollers skid; springs or the rotor's own weight are part of the selection, not an accessory. 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
- 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
- paper machine calender and refiner discs with combined axial and radial force
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
- abrasive paste forming as dust bypasses the housing seals into the open washer set
- electrical erosion of raceways on VFD-driven shafts without grounding or insulation
- 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 140 here): design the preload or lift sequence explicitly — an unloaded slow rotation glazes the 850 mm washer track.
- the 340 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, the 670 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 29496 EM.
- 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.
- Minimum load factor A 140 dominates commissioning: start the oil flow and preload before rotation, especially on 294 bearings where an unloaded cold start smears the rollers.
- The 9550/39000 kN ratings and 550000 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 29496 EM designation read?
294 is the dimension series (heavy 294 series) and 96 the 480 mm bore (code 96 × 5); EM is the cage execution (machined brass EM cage). The sphered housing washer provides self-alignment.
Why is the minimum axial load (A 140) so important?
Spherical roller thrust bearings skid and smear immediately when run unloaded — on large sizes factor A 140 corresponds to a substantial force. Springs, oil lift or the rotor/load weight must be applied before rotation, including cold test runs.
Can the 29496 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 29496 EM mounted?
Tight shaft washer on the 480 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 140 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.