23120 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 23120 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 100 x 165 x 52 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 100 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 165 mm |
| Width B | 52 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 385 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 490 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 53 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 3000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 4000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 4550 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 23120 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 & 23100-series range
| Bore d | 3.937 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 6.496 in |
| Width B | 2.047 in |
| ISO bore code | 20 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 32.5 mm |
| Smallest bore in 23100-series | 100 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 23100-series | 790 mm |
| Width range across 23100-series | 52–248 mm |
| Bore position in 23100-series (smallest first) | 1 of 25 |
| Bore above smallest 23100-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23120 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; D/B cross-verified against Schaeffler HR1 2022; brand-specific OEM equivalents (NSK/FAG/NTN) pending multi-source data. |
| 23120-CCK-W33 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Tapered-bore (1:12) execution on H3120 adapter sleeve; same ISO 15 envelope, separate order number. |
| C3120-V | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 3120 V shares the 100×165×52 mm envelope but catalogue C/C0 differ (475/655 kN vs 385/490 kN); it floats axially and cannot locate the shaft — pair, never swap one-for-one. |
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 23120 model number is decoded
For a 100 mm shaft carrying heavy radial load with misalignment or deflection, SKF lists 23120 under catalogue execution 23120 CC/W33: two barrel-roller rows on a sphered outer raceway. On the SKF nameplate, 23120 follows the ISO 15 convention: 2 for the spherical roller type, 31 for the dimension series 31 (medium OD, wide), final digits 20 for the 100 mm bore. In SKF suffix language, E marks the optimized high-capacity design and CC/W33 the pressed-steel-cage execution with relubrication groove; both are open bearings — the sealed variant carries the 2CS5 suffix and the vibrating-screen execution VA405. The 53 kN Pu figure feeds the adjusted-life equation at contaminated or partial-film conditions, and the 1.27 C0/C balance shows this execution is tuned to heavy radial-plus-axial duty with misalignment tolerance. Mount with the spherical bearing's self-alignment in mind: it compensates ≈ 0.5–2.5° of misalignment depending on series, but the shaft and housing seats still set the datum — a rotating inner ring on a 100 mm shaft typically takes a k5 seat with an H7 housing bore.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- cement-mill trunnion and drive shafts
- heavy conveyor head shafts in mining
- jaw and cone crusher main shafts
- paper-machine press and dryer rolls
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
- surface distress and smearing when the relubrication interval is exceeded — the W33 groove is only effective if grease actually reaches the roller rows
- electrical pitting on VFD-driven shafts without grounding protection
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount the 100 mm bore 23120 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 23100-series series at 100 mm bore (165×52 mm) is the medium-OD wide envelope for heavy continuous duty; it is wider than a 222 bearing in the same OD class, so housing width and spacer stack must be re-checked before substitution.
- The 4550 g mass and 52 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 23120.
- The 4550 g mass and 52 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 23120.
- The 385/490 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (23120 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 23120 (cylindrical bore as listed, tapered-bore 23120 CCK/W33 variant, plus sealed and vibrating-screen options in the same envelope); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 23120 CC/W33 designation when purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 23120?
The 23120 CC/W33 is a double-row spherical roller bearing with 100 mm bore, 165 mm outer diameter and 52 mm width (3.937 × 6.496 × 2.047 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 385 kN, C0 490 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 53 kN, reference speed 3,000 r/min, limiting speed 4,000 r/min, mass about 4550 g. It is an open, self-aligning bearing with two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring.
How does the 23120 bore code work?
The last two digits of 23120 are bore code 20, so 20 × 5 = 100 mm bore. The 165 mm OD and 52 mm width come from the ISO 15 dimension-series plan (dimension series 31 (medium OD, wide)), shared with other spherical roller bearings of the same code.
What does the CC/W33 suffix mean on 23120?
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 23120 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 23120K 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 23120 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.