23968 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 23968 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 340 x 460 x 90 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 340 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 460 mm |
| Width B | 90 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 1490 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 2800 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 216 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 1300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1400 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 45500 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 23968 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 & 23900-series range
| Bore d | 13.386 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 18.11 in |
| Width B | 3.543 in |
| ISO bore code | 68 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 60 mm |
| Smallest bore in 23900-series | 180 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 23900-series | 650 mm |
| Width range across 23900-series | 52–128 mm |
| Bore position in 23900-series (smallest first) | 10 of 17 |
| Bore above smallest 23900-series size | 160 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23968 | 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. |
| 23968-CCK-W33 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Tapered-bore (1:12) execution on OH3968 adapter sleeve; same ISO 15 envelope, separate order number. |
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 23968 model number is decoded
23968 is a double-row spherical roller bearing in the 23900-series family: two rows of barrel rollers on a common sphered outer raceway, self-aligning under shaft deflection, listed by SKF in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000. Reading the designation: the leading 2 marks a spherical roller bearing, the 39 is the ISO 15 dimension series (dimension series 39 (compact OD, narrow)), and the last two digits encode the 340 mm bore; the 460 mm OD and 90 mm width follow the ISO 15 general plan. The suffix chain reads CC (two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring between the roller rows) plus W33 (annular groove and three lubrication holes in the outer ring for relubrication); CCK/W33 is the 1:12 tapered-bore counterpart. Catalogue mass 45500 g for the 340×460×90 mm open execution covers the two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring; tapered-bore and sealed variants differ in mass and carry their own order numbers. 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 340 mm shaft typically takes a m6 seat with an H7 housing bore.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large dredger and marine winch drums
- steel-plant continuous-caster segments
- large induced-draft fan rotors
- SAG and ball-mill drive shafts
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
- electrical pitting on VFD-driven shafts without grounding protection
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 340 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 23900-series series at 340 mm bore (460×90 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.
- 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 23968 shares its ISO 15 envelope across brands, but internal geometry differs — SKF load ratings in this row are 1490/2800 kN; another maker's same-size bearing may rate higher or lower, so do not interchange on envelope alone.
- The 1490/2800 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (23968 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 23968 (cylindrical bore as listed, tapered-bore 23968 CCK/W33 variant, plus sealed and vibrating-screen options in the same envelope); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 23968 CC/W33 designation when purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 23968?
The 23968 CC/W33 is a double-row spherical roller bearing with 340 mm bore, 460 mm outer diameter and 90 mm width (13.386 × 18.11 × 3.543 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 1490 kN, C0 2800 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 216 kN, reference speed 1,300 r/min, limiting speed 1,400 r/min, mass about 45500 g. It is an open, self-aligning bearing with two pressed-steel cages with a floating guide ring.
How does the 23968 bore code work?
The last two digits of 23968 are bore code 68, so 68 × 5 = 340 mm bore. The 460 mm OD and 90 mm width come from the ISO 15 dimension-series plan (dimension series 39 (compact OD, narrow)), shared with other spherical roller bearings of the same code.
What does the CC/W33 suffix mean on 23968?
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 23968 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 23968K 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 23968 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.