22218-EK bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 22218-EK is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 90 x 160 x 40 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 90 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 160 mm |
| Width B | 40 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 331 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 375 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 39 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 3800 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 5300 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 4550 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 22218 EK |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.2 adapter-sleeve executions |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.2 adapter-sleeve executions) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.2 adapter-sleeve executions); 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 & 22200-series range
| Bore d | 3.543 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 6.299 in |
| Width B | 1.575 in |
| ISO bore code | 18 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 35 mm |
| Smallest bore in 22200-series | 25 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 22200-series | 290 mm |
| Width range across 22200-series | 18–80 mm |
| Bore position in 22200-series (smallest first) | 14 of 22 |
| Bore above smallest 22200-series size | 65 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22218 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Tapered-bore (1:12) sleeve-mounted execution of 22218; identical ISO 15 envelope, fits H318 adapter sleeve on a 80 mm shaft. |
| C2218 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 2218 shares the 90×160×40 mm envelope with ratings within 10 %; it self-aligns but floats axially and cannot locate the shaft — locating/non-locating pair, not a substitute. |
| C2218-K | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 2218 K shares the 90×160×40 mm envelope with ratings within 10 %; it self-aligns but floats axially and cannot locate the shaft — locating/non-locating pair, not a substitute. |
Interchange levels: full standard interchange · partial verify parameters · verify manual confirmation required. Links resolve to the equivalent model's specification page where available.
How the 22218-EK model number is decoded
For sleeve mounting on a 90 mm shaft, SKF order number SKF 22218 EK is the 1:12 tapered-bore spherical roller bearing in the 22200-series family (dimension series 22 (medium OD, wide)); the cylindrical-bore equivalent is a separate order number, 22218. Digit by digit, 22218-ek reads as bearing type 2 (spherical roller, two barrel-roller rows), dimension series 22, and bore reference 18 resolving to 90 mm; 160 mm OD and 40 mm width are the matching ISO 15 boundary values. Reading the suffix on 22218-ek, the K (or EK/CCK) element changes only the bore — 1:12 taper for sleeve mounting — while the rest of the suffix chain (CC cages with W33 groove) keeps the same internal design, cage and W33 relubrication features as the cylindrical-bore 22218. Selection arithmetic: the C0/C ratio is about 1.13 (static 375 kN against dynamic 331 kN), typical of a spherical roller sized for heavy combined loads, and the 39 kN fatigue load limit Pu is the equivalent-load floor used in the life calculation. On an H adapter sleeve the 90 mm shaft seat only needs an h9 plain journal; slide the sleeve into the 22218-ek inner ring, tighten the KM nut against the MB washer until the catalogue clearance-reduction value is reached, then lock the washer tab.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- jaw and cone crusher main shafts
- paper-machine press and dryer rolls
- stepped shafts fitted with withdrawal sleeves against a fixed shoulder
- fan and pulley shafts that need periodic bearing removal in the field
Known failure patterns
- raceway fatigue spalling of the sphered outer raceway after extended service above the catalogue L10 rating
- inner-ring raceway spalling from edge loading when misalignment exceeds the self-aligning recovery range
- sleeve seizure and shaft seat damage from omitting the anti-seize film between withdrawal sleeve and journal before drive-up
- roller-end scoring from starved lubricant at start-up before the grease channel purges
- brinelling from static overload or impact during handling and mounting
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount the 90 mm bore 22218-ek by induction heating (max 120 °C) or oil injection — driving a bearing of this section home through the rollers brinells both raceways, and the damage only speaks up as vibration hours later.
- The 22200-series series at 90 mm bore (160×40 mm) is the general-purpose spherical roller envelope; stepping up to 223 adds capacity and width, stepping to 230 trims the OD — neither is interchangeable without re-checking shoulders and speed.
- The adapter sleeve is selected by actual shaft diameter, not by the 90 mm nominal bearing bore: H-sleeve part numbers span a small diameter range, so two different shaft diameters can use the same 22218-ek with different sleeves.
- A loose sleeve after the first weeks of service usually means inadequate initial drive-up; re-checking clearance without dismounting is possible through the 40 mm-wide roller rows with feeler gauges — do not simply tighten the KM nut until vibration stops.
- The 4550 g mass and 40 mm width mean abutment faces must be square to the axis within the bearing's own P0 tolerance; a tilted spacer tilts the outer ring and concentrates load on one roller row of 22218-ek.
- The 331/375 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this tapered-bore execution (SKF 22218 EK); sleeve, KM nut and MB washer are separate order numbers, and the catalogue version (SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000) should travel with the mounting specification.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 22218-ek?
The SKF 22218 EK is a double-row spherical roller bearing with a 1:12 tapered bore, 90 mm nominal bore, 160 mm outer diameter and 40 mm width (3.543 × 6.299 × 1.575 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: C 331 kN, C0 375 kN, Pu 39 kN, reference speed 3,800 r/min, limiting speed 5,300 r/min, mass about 4550 g. It is mounted on an adapter (H) or withdrawal (AH) sleeve, not directly on the shaft.
What does the K suffix mean on 22218-ek?
K marks a 1:12 tapered bore for sleeve mounting — SKF writes EK or CCK(/W33), FAG writes -K- inside the suffix chain for sleeve mounting. The bearing seats on an H-series adapter sleeve with a KM locknut and MB lock washer (plain shaft, h9 tolerance), or on an AH withdrawal sleeve against a shaft shoulder. The rarer K30 suffix would instead mean a 1:30 taper; dimension series 40/41 spherical rollers commonly use it.
Which adapter sleeve fits the 22218-ek?
The sleeve is selected by the actual shaft diameter in millimetres, not only by the 90 mm nominal bore: SKF H-sleeve numbers each cover a small shaft-diameter range and are width-series specific (H39/H30/H31/H32 matching dimension series 39/40/31/32), and each kit bundles the sleeve, KM locknut and MB lock washer. For shoulder locations use an AH withdrawal sleeve instead. Confirm the sleeve number against the SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000 mounting tables for your shaft size.
How is the 22218-ek driven up and checked?
Mounting is controlled by radial-clearance reduction or axial drive-up distance from the SKF catalogue tables for the 1:12 taper, never by locknut torque. Measure clearance with feeler gauges before and after tightening the KM nut, stop at the tabulated decrease, and lock the MB washer tab. Over-drive removes too much clearance (inner-ring cracking risk); under-drive lets the sleeve creep and fret.
What is the difference between 22218-ek and 22218?
They share the ISO 15 envelope and the same 331/375 kN ratings, but 22218-ek has the 1:12 tapered bore for sleeve mounting on a plain shaft, while 22218 has a cylindrical bore for direct mounting on a machined interference journal (typically k5 with H7 housing). They are separate order numbers, not interchangeable in the same shaft arrangement.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.2 adapter-sleeve executions on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.