32238 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB) · extracted 2026-09-28

Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB); 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.

Cross references & equivalents

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 32238 model number is decoded

Ordering number SKF 32238 in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000 denotes a single-row tapered roller bearing for a 190 mm shaft, heavy section, with an open pressed-steel-cage execution and one-direction axial capacity.Digit by digit, 32238 reads as bearing type 3 (single-row tapered roller), heavy section series 22, and bore reference 38 resolving to 190 mm; 340 mm OD and 97 mm width are the matching ISO 355 boundary values. SKF lists the plain number as the basic execution; letter suffixes such as B denote a steeper contact angle and are different order numbers. The 75.0 mm radial section height ((340−190)/2) and 36000 g catalogue mass frame a 190 mm bore bearing rated at 1267 kN C — roughly 6.67 kN of dynamic capacity per millimetre of bore before application factors. A single 32238 locates the shaft in one axial direction only; mount it against a second bearing in O (back-to-back) or X (face-to-face) arrangement, and set the running clearance by the mounting procedure — not by feel. Speed envelope and thermal behaviour: at 1,300 r/min thermal reference, the 190 mm bore shaft runs at a dn of 247k, and the 75.0 mm section dissipates heat through the cup-to-housing contact path; the 1,800 r/min mechanical ceiling reflects cage strength, and the 36000 g spinning cone contributes gyroscopic moment under rapid speed reversal.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• At 190 mm bore the cone mass is high enough that cocking during mounting damages the cage and rib; guide the ring square, confirm seat contact around the full circumference, and re-check setting after the first thermal cycle of the paired set.
• The 322 series at 190 mm bore (340×97 mm) is a wider, higher-capacity section than 30238; do not substitute without re-checking shaft shoulder diameters and pair setting.
• A single 32238 cannot locate the shaft axially in both directions; mounting it singly on a reversing-thrust shaft leaves one direction uncontrolled — always use an O or X matched pair for bidirectional location.
• When the outer ring rotates, reverse the fit logic and provide cup location; the tapered contact of 32238 pushes the rings apart under load, so a non-located cup walks its seat even when the shaft is fixed.
• The 32238 shares its ISO 355 envelope with other tapered bearings of the same code but is not a drop-in replacement for a ball bearing: it cannot run effectively under pure radial load without a minimum axial load, and a deep-groove bearing cannot replace its combined-load duty.
• The 1267/1930 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the basic execution; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
• SKF lists several executions of 32238 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF 32238 designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.