23038 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 23038 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 190 x 290 x 75 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 | 290 mm |
| Width B | 75 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 916 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 1340 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 122 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 1900 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 2400 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 18000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 23038 CC/W33 |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.1 spherical roller bearings |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.1 spherical roller bearings) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.1 spherical roller 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 & 23000-series range
| Bore d | 7.48 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 11.417 in |
| Width B | 2.953 in |
| ISO bore code | 38 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 50 mm |
| Smallest bore in 23000-series | 70 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 23000-series | 1580 mm |
| Width range across 23000-series | 27–345 mm |
| Bore position in 23000-series (smallest first) | 16 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest 23000-series size | 120 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23038-CCK-W33 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Tapered-bore (1:12) execution on H3038 adapter sleeve; same ISO 15 envelope, separate order number. |
| C3038 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 3038 shares the 190×290×75 mm envelope with ratings within 10 %; it self-aligns but floats axially and cannot locate the shaft — locating/non-locating pair, not a substitute. |
| C3038-K | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 3038 K shares the 190×290×75 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 23038 model number is decoded
Ordering number 23038 CC/W33 in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000 denotes a double-row spherical roller bearing for a 190 mm shaft, dimension series 30 (slim OD, extra-wide), with open execution and two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring. The code breaks down as type digit 2 (double-row spherical roller), dimension series 30 (dimension series 30 (slim OD, extra-wide)), and bore code 38 = 190 mm; dimensions 190×290×75 mm therefore match the ISO 15 envelope. SKF basic executions here are E or CC/W33; specialist suffixes change the bearing materially — VA405 for vibrating screens (C4 clearance, surface-hardened cage), 2CS5 for the sealed variant — and must be quoted in full when ordering. With C 916 kN and C0 1340 kN, the 23038 load check covers radial plus moderate axial in either direction — but below the minimum load the rollers skid, so verify P ≥ 0.01·C0 at the lightest operating point. Drive-on force must go through the ring being fitted: press or induction-heat the inner ring onto the 190 mm shaft (max 120 °C) and never transmit mounting force through the roller complement, or the raceways brinell.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- heavy rolling-mill work-roll chocks
- large dredger and marine winch drums
- steel-plant continuous-caster segments
- large induced-draft fan rotors
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
- stamped-steel cage fatigue after long service in high-vibration screening duty without the VA405 execution
- roller-end scoring from starved lubricant at start-up before the grease channel purges
- hard-particle indentation of the raceway in unfiltered oil or contaminated grease systems
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 190 mm bore the ring mass makes cocking during mounting a real risk; guide the bearing square, confirm seat contact around the full circumference, and re-check the self-aligning swing after the housing cap is torqued down.
- The 23000-series series at 190 mm bore (290×75 mm) is the slim-OD envelope: it buys radial space but gives up capacity against a 222-series bearing of the same bore — confirm the L10 margin before downsizing into it.
- Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 75 mm-wide rings seat square; use an undercut or withdrawal groove rather than an oversized radius that locks on the ring face.
- Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 75 mm-wide rings seat square; use an undercut or withdrawal groove rather than an oversized radius that locks on the ring face.
- The 916/1340 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (23038 CC/W33); SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
- SKF lists several executions of 23038 (cylindrical bore as listed, tapered-bore 23038 CCK/W33 variant, plus sealed and vibrating-screen options in the same envelope); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 23038 CC/W33 designation when purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 23038?
The 23038 CC/W33 is a double-row spherical roller bearing with 190 mm bore, 290 mm outer diameter and 75 mm width (7.48 × 11.417 × 2.953 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 916 kN, C0 1340 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 122 kN, reference speed 1,900 r/min, limiting speed 2,400 r/min, mass about 18000 g. It is an open, self-aligning bearing with two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring.
How does the 23038 bore code work?
The last two digits of 23038 are bore code 38, so 38 × 5 = 190 mm bore. The 290 mm OD and 75 mm width come from the ISO 15 dimension-series plan (dimension series 30 (slim OD, extra-wide)), shared with other spherical roller bearings of the same code.
What does the CC/W33 suffix mean on 23038?
CC denotes two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring between the roller rows, and W33 adds an annular groove plus three lubrication holes in the outer ring for relubrication. CCK/W33 is the 1:12 tapered-bore counterpart.
Can 23038 accommodate misalignment and axial load?
Yes on both counts. The sphered outer raceway lets the bearing self-align ≈ 0.5–2.5° depending on series, absorbing shaft deflection and housing-seat errors. The two barrel-roller rows also carry bidirectional axial load in addition to heavy radial load — this is the key difference from cylindrical roller bearings, which take no axial load.
When should the tapered-bore 23038K variant be used instead?
Choose the K (1:12 tapered bore) variant when the bearing must seat on an adapter or withdrawal sleeve — typical for long shafts, frequent dismounting, or stepped shafts where machining a precision journal is impractical. Sleeve mounting requires measuring clearance reduction or axial drive-up, not nut torque. The cylindrical-bore 23038 listed here seats directly on a machined journal.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 9.1 spherical roller bearings on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.