23138 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 23138 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 190 x 320 x 104 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 | 320 mm |
| Width B | 104 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 1456 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 2080 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 183 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 1500 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 2000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 35000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 23138 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 | 7.48 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 12.598 in |
| Width B | 4.094 in |
| ISO bore code | 38 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 65 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) | 10 of 25 |
| Bore above smallest 23100-series size | 90 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23138 | 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. |
| 23138-CCK-W33 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Tapered-bore (1:12) execution on H3138 adapter sleeve; same ISO 15 envelope, separate order number. |
| C3138-V | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 3138 V shares the 190×320×104 mm envelope but catalogue C/C0 differ (1700/2550 kN vs 1456/2080 kN); it floats axially and cannot locate the shaft — pair, never swap one-for-one. |
| C3138-KV | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 3138 KV shares the 190×320×104 mm envelope but catalogue C/C0 differ (1700/2550 kN vs 1456/2080 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 23138 model number is decoded
The 23138 CC/W33 is a 190×320×104 mm spherical roller bearing — the dimension series 31 (medium OD, wide) entry for a 190 mm shaft, with two rows of symmetrical barrel rollers for combined radial and axial load. On the SKF nameplate, 23138 follows the ISO 15 convention: 2 for the spherical roller type, 31 for the dimension series 31 (medium OD, wide), final digits 38 for the 190 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. Speed planning uses two different ceilings: 1,500 r/min thermal reference and 2,000 r/min mechanical limiting speed. 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 190 mm shaft typically takes a m6 seat with an H7 housing bore.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large mining crusher main shafts
- wind-turbine main shaft support
- heavy rolling-mill work-roll chocks
- large dredger and marine winch drums
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
- cage pocket wear or fracture from roller skew at insufficient minimum load or rapid acceleration
- roller-end scoring from starved lubricant at start-up before the grease channel purges
- smearing on the roller-raceway contact during skid starts below the minimum load
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 23100-series series at 190 mm bore (320×104 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.
- Catalogue reference speed and limiting speed are different limits: the 1,500 r/min reference is a thermal criterion under load, while the 2,000 r/min limiting value is the mechanical ceiling — observe both.
- The self-aligning feature is not a license to ignore alignment: beyond ≈ 0.5–2.5° (series-dependent) the edge loading eats the fatigue margin, and seal drag grows as the rings tilt.
- The 1456/2080 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (23138 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 23138 (cylindrical bore as listed, tapered-bore 23138 CCK/W33 variant, plus sealed and vibrating-screen options in the same envelope); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 23138 CC/W33 designation when purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 23138?
The 23138 CC/W33 is a double-row spherical roller bearing with 190 mm bore, 320 mm outer diameter and 104 mm width (7.48 × 12.598 × 4.094 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 1456 kN, C0 2080 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 183 kN, reference speed 1,500 r/min, limiting speed 2,000 r/min, mass about 35000 g. It is an open, self-aligning bearing with two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring.
How does the 23138 bore code work?
The last two digits of 23138 are bore code 38, so 38 × 5 = 190 mm bore. The 320 mm OD and 104 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 23138?
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 23138 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 23138K 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 23138 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.