42687-42620 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 42687-42620 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 76.2 x 127 x 30.162 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 76.2 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 127 mm |
| Width B | 30.162 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 171 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 204 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 24 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 4000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 5000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 1450 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 42687/42620 |
| Standard | ISO 355 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.2 inch single-row TRB |
| Last verified | 2026-09-28 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.2 inch 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. 8.2 inch 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.
Dimensions in inches & 42600-series range
| Bore d | 3 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 5 in |
| Width B | 1.187 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 25.4 mm |
| Smallest bore in 42600-series | 76.2 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 42600-series | 127 mm |
| Width range across 42600-series | 30.162–30.163 mm |
| Bore position in 42600-series (smallest first) | 1 of 2 |
| Bore above smallest 42600-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42687-42620-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 76.2×127×30.162 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting. |
| 42687-42620 | Timken | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same inch-series cone/cup boundary envelope (d/D/T); load ratings and speed limits are brand-specific and may differ. |
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 42687-42620 model number is decoded
SKF lists the plain number as the basic execution; letter suffixes such as B denote a steeper contact angle and are different order numbers. Catalogue mass 1450 g for the 76.2×127×30.162 mm open execution covers the pressed-steel cage and standard roller complement; sealed or special-clearance variants differ slightly in mass and carry their own order numbers. Fit selection follows the rotating ring — interference on a rotating cone — and two 42687 units are required to take reversing thrust; keep the induced axial load inside the rated capacity when calculating the pair. Speed envelope and thermal behaviour: at 4,000 r/min thermal reference, the 76.2 mm bore shaft runs at a dn of 305k, and the 25.4 mm section dissipates heat through the cup-to-housing contact path; the 5,000 r/min mechanical ceiling reflects cage strength, and the 1450 g spinning cone contributes gyroscopic moment under rapid speed reversal. Cup-side note for 42620: the outer ring's rib profile and the 127 mm outside diameter are cup-specific within the 42600-series tables, so substituting a different cup against the same 42687 cone changes both the assembled 30.162 mm width and the axial free-play setting of the mounted pair.SKF 42687/42620 belongs to the SKF single-row tapered roller range — the 76.2 mm bore entry in the inch 42600-series, dimensioned 127 mm OD and 30.162 mm wide.Reading the designation: 42687 follows the Timken-style inch convention — the cone (inner ring with rollers) and cup (outer ring) are quoted as a pair separated by a slash, and the 42600-series code identifies the dimensional series. The 76.2 mm bore, 127 mm OD and 30.162 mm width are the metric equivalents of the inch boundary dimensions.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- rolling-mill auxiliary drives
- crane sheave and hoist gearboxes
- paper-machine and printing rolls
- marine deck machinery shafts
Known failure patterns
- cup or cone misalignment when the separable rings are not seated square during mounting
- loose cup rotation in the housing when the specified press fit is not achieved
- preload loss as the mounted pair relaxes, letting rollers skid and smear the raceways
- thermal preload runaway in an O-arrangement pair when inner-ring heat expands the setting
- cage pocket scoring when the bearing starts cold with grease of too-high base-oil viscosity
- rolling-contact fatigue spalling after the rated L10 life is exceeded
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount the 76.2 mm bore 42687 by induction heating of the cone (max 120 °C — the pressed-steel cage sets the ceiling, not the steel); driving it home through the cup or rollers brinells the tapered raceway.
- The 42600-series inch series at 76.2 mm bore (127×30.162 mm) follows the Timken cone/cup convention; substitutions must match both the cone and cup reference exactly — interchanging with another series or a metric 3xxxx bearing of the same bore changes OD, width and contact angle, so re-run the pair setting and shoulder-diameter checks before swapping.
- Setting is a design value, not an assembly feel: excessive preload in the 42687 pair raises operating temperature and can trigger thermal runaway, while too little lets the rollers skid and smear the raceway under light load.
- A single 42687 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.
- The 42687 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 171/204 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 42687 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF 42687/42620 designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What do the cone and cup numbers in 42687 mean?
The cone number (before the slash) identifies the inner ring, rollers and cage; the cup number (after the slash) identifies the outer ring. Both are quoted together because a single-row tapered roller bearing is a matched separable pair — the cone and cup are ground to work together and are not interchangeable with arbitrary other parts. The series prefix (42600-series) groups sizes that share the same boundary-dimension plan.
Can a single 42687 take axial load in both directions?
No — one single-row tapered roller bearing reacts thrust in one direction only, and under radial load its contact angle induces an axial force. Use two bearings as a matched pair: O (back-to-back) for a rigid, moment-resisting arrangement, X (face-to-face) where thermal expansion must be tolerated, or tandem where one-direction thrust is shared.
How does 42687 compare with a ball bearing of the same bore?
A tapered roller bearing has line contact and a steep contact angle: much higher combined axial-plus-radial capacity and shock resistance than a ball bearing of the same bore, at the cost of speed, one-direction thrust, mandatory pairing for reversing loads and a minimum axial load requirement. A ball bearing cannot be dropped into a combined-load 42687 position and vice versa — verify load direction, Fa/Fr ratio and speed before substituting.
What shaft and housing fits suit 42687?
For a rotating shaft under normal load, seat the cone on a k5 shaft fit; the cup is usually a loose-to-transition fit in the housing so it can creep slightly and distribute wear. Chamfer and shoulder diameters must clear the bearing rings so the 30.162 mm-wide cup seats square; the mounting setting (end play or preload) is set by the axial position of the cup relative to the cone.
Is 42687 interchangeable with other brands?
Inch-series tapered roller bearings follow a long-standing industry boundary plan, so cones and cups of the same basic number are generally dimensionally interchangeable across manufacturers. However, internal geometry, cage design and load ratings differ by brand, so for paired or precision applications keep both halves of the set from one manufacturer — or re-verify ratings and setting when mixing.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.2 inch single-row TRB on 2026-09-28. Read our editorial & correction policy.