23996 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 23996 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 480 x 650 x 128 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 480 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 650 mm |
| Width B | 128 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | brass, machined (M1) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 2990 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 5700 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 405 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 560 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 125000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 23996 CA/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 | 18.898 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 25.591 in |
| Width B | 5.039 in |
| ISO bore code | 96 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 85 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) | 17 of 17 |
| Bore above smallest 23900-series size | 300 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23996 | 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. |
| 23996-CAK-W33 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Tapered-bore (1:12) execution on OH3996 adapter sleeve; same ISO 15 envelope, separate order number. |
| C3996-M | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF CARB toroidal bearing C 3996 M shares the 480×650×128 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 23996 model number is decoded
23996 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. The code breaks down as type digit 2 (double-row spherical roller), dimension series 39 (dimension series 39 (compact OD, narrow)), and bore code 96 = 480 mm; dimensions 480×650×128 mm therefore match the ISO 15 envelope. CA executions here use a machined brass cage (inner-ring-guided) rather than pressed steel; specialist suffixes change the bearing materially and must be quoted in full, and the K/CCK tapered-bore variant is a separate order number. The 85.0 mm radial section height ((650−480)/2) and 125000 g catalogue mass frame a 480 mm bore bearing rated at 2990 kN C — roughly 6.23 kN of dynamic capacity per millimetre of bore before application factors. The cylindrical-bore execution here seats directly on the shaft journal; if the application calls for an adapter sleeve, order the tapered-bore 23996 CCK/W33 variant instead and measure the drive-up or clearance reduction, not the nut torque.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- wind-turbine main shaft support
- heavy rolling-mill work-roll chocks
- large dredger and marine winch drums
- steel-plant continuous-caster segments
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 480 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 480 mm bore (650×128 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 128 mm-wide rings seat square; use an undercut or withdrawal groove rather than an oversized radius that locks on the ring face.
- Never use the tapered-bore EK/K variant's drive-up figures on this cylindrical-bore 23996; clearance reduction targets differ, and over-driving a cylindrical bore onto an oversized journal cracks the inner ring.
- The 2990/5700 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (23996 CA/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 23996 (cylindrical bore as listed, tapered-bore 23996 CCK/W33 variant, plus sealed and vibrating-screen options in the same envelope); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 23996 CA/W33 designation when purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 23996?
The 23996 CA/W33 is a double-row spherical roller bearing with 480 mm bore, 650 mm outer diameter and 128 mm width (18.898 × 25.591 × 5.039 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 2990 kN, C0 5700 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 405 kN, reference speed 560 r/min, limiting speed 1,000 r/min, mass about 125000 g. It is an open, self-aligning bearing with a one-piece machined brass cage guided on the inner ring (CA design).
How does the 23996 bore code work?
The last two digits of 23996 are bore code 96, so 96 × 5 = 480 mm bore. The 650 mm OD and 128 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 CA/W33 suffix mean on 23996?
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 23996 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 23996K 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 23996 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.