655-652 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 655-652 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 69.85 x 152.4 x 41.275 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 69.85 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 152.4 mm |
| Width B | 41.275 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 270 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 320 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 35.5 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 3600 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 4300 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 3650 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 655/652 |
| 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 & 655-series range
| Bore d | 2.75 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 6 in |
| Width B | 1.625 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 41.3 mm |
| Smallest bore in 655-series | 69.85 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 655-series | 152.4 mm |
| Width range across 655-series | 41.275–41.275 mm |
| Bore position in 655-series (smallest first) | 1 of 3 |
| Bore above smallest 655-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 655-653 | NTN | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Model-number interchange per ISO 15; confirm dimensions, sealing and ratings in the supplier catalogue. |
| 655-652 | 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 655-652 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. The 41.3 mm radial section height ((152.4−69.85)/2) and 3650 g catalogue mass frame a 69.85 mm bore bearing rated at 270 kN C — roughly 3.87 kN of dynamic capacity per millimetre of bore before application factors. A single 655 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 3,600 r/min thermal reference, the 69.85 mm bore shaft runs at a dn of 251k, and the 41.3 mm section dissipates heat through the cup-to-housing contact path; the 4,300 r/min mechanical ceiling reflects cage strength, and the 3650 g spinning cone contributes gyroscopic moment under rapid speed reversal. Why the cup reference matters here: in the 655-series tables the 655 cone appears against several cup options. 655 is the pairing with 652, and that choice — not the cone — fixes the 152.4 mm OD, the raceway track position and the 41.275 mm assembled width.For a 69.85 mm shaft carrying combined load, SKF lists 655 under catalogue execution SKF 655/652: one open single-row tapered roller bearing in the inch 655-series.In SKF inch-series tables 655 sits at 69.85 mm bore (2.75 in) with a 152.4 mm cup OD and 41.275 mm total width — dimensions that trace back to the original Timken boundary plan for the 655-series family.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- heavy industrial gearboxes and speed reducers
- large process pump and compressor shafts
- rolling-mill auxiliary drives
- paper-machine and printing rolls
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
- axial overload spalling at the roller-rib contact beyond the single-row thrust rating
- axial overload spalling at the roller-rib contact beyond the single-row thrust rating
- pressed-steel cage wear or fracture after prolonged running above the limiting speed
- rolling-contact fatigue spalling after the rated L10 life is exceeded
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount the 69.85 mm bore 655 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 655-series inch series at 69.85 mm bore (152.4×41.275 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.
- O (back-to-back) pairs are stiffer against moments, X (face-to-face) pairs tolerate misalignment and thermal growth better; choosing the arrangement from the 2D drawing rather than the actual shaft thermal expansion is a common 655 mounting error.
- At the 270 kN rating of 655, preload class changes stiffness by tens of percent but also heat generation; select light preload for the 4,300 r/min speed end and heavier preload only where moment stiffness dominates.
- Never press both rings through the wrong element during fitting: force for an interference shaft seat goes through the cone only, or brinell marks on the 152.4 mm cup race release as noise within the first running hours.
- The 270/320 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 655 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF 655/652 designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What do the cone and cup numbers in 655 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 (655-series) groups sizes that share the same boundary-dimension plan.
Can a single 655 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 655 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 655 position and vice versa — verify load direction, Fa/Fr ratio and speed before substituting.
What shaft and housing fits suit 655?
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 41.275 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 655 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.