L68149-111 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The L68149-111 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 34.987 x 59.975 x 15.875 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 34.987 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 59.975 mm |
| Width B | 15.875 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 40.6 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 44 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 4.5 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 9000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 11000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 180 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF L 68149/111 |
| 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 & L68100-series range
| Bore d | 1.377 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 2.361 in |
| Width B | 0.625 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 12.5 mm |
| Smallest bore in L68100-series | 34.987 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in L68100-series | 59.975 mm |
| Width range across L68100-series | 15.875–15.875 mm |
| Bore position in L68100-series (smallest first) | 1 of 1 |
| Bore above smallest L68100-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| L68149-L68111 | NTN | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Identical ISO 15 envelope, seal and ratings band — standard interchange; re-verify precision class and clearance per supplier. |
| L68149-111 | 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 L68149-111 model number is decoded
Numbering ties the bearing to its inch-series envelope: L68149 means a cone and cup matched pair in the L68100-series series — which is why the 34.987×59.975×15.875 mm outline swaps dimensionally with other inch-series bearings of the same code. In SKF suffix language a bare L68149 is the standard execution; B marks a larger contact angle and Q or J2 mark clearance/cage variants, all quoted separately. Selection arithmetic: the C0/C ratio is about 1.08 (static 44 kN against dynamic 40.6 kN), typical of a tapered roller sized for axial capacity, and the 4.5 kN fatigue load limit Pu is the equivalent-load floor used in the life calculation. Mounting practice for L68149: the rotating cone takes the interference fit (k5 on a 34.987 mm shaft), the cup slides for axial location, and reversing-thrust duty demands a paired O/X set rather than one bearing. Load system: the 40.6 kN basic dynamic rating C and 44 kN static rating C0 give a C0/C balance of 1.08, and dividing C by the 34.987 mm bore yields 1.16 kN per millimetre of journal — a density metric that compares across families; the 4.5 kN fatigue limit Pu is the floor beneath which the adjusted-life calculation drops below acceptable L10 hours for a 34.987 mm shaft carrying variable duty. Why the cup reference matters here: in the L68100-series tables the L 68149 cone appears against several cup options. L68149 is the pairing with 111, and that choice — not the cone — fixes the 59.975 mm OD, the raceway track position and the 15.875 mm assembled width.SKF L68149 (SKF L 68149/111) is the L68100-series tapered roller choice for a 34.987 mm shaft — one row of tapered rollers on an asymmetric raceway inside the 59.975×15.875 mm envelope.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- axle-boxes in material-handling equipment
- automotive and light-truck wheel hubs
- industrial gearbox shafts and reducers
- industrial gearbox shafts and reducers
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
- roller large-end smearing against the cone rib after EP lubricant film failure
- thermal preload runaway in an O-arrangement pair when inner-ring heat expands the setting
- pressed-steel cage wear or fracture after prolonged running above the limiting speed
- fretting corrosion on a loose rotating shaft seat
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On this 34.987 mm bore, interference and temperature rise consume clearance inside a preloaded pair; calculate the residual clearance after mounting and at operating temperature — an over-tight L68149 pair heats, loses setting control and smears the roller-rib contact.
- The L68100-series inch series at 34.987 mm bore (59.975×15.875 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.
- At the 40.6 kN rating of L68149, preload class changes stiffness by tens of percent but also heat generation; select light preload for the 11,000 r/min speed end and heavier preload only where moment stiffness dominates.
- 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 L68149 mounting error.
- Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 15.875 mm-wide cup seats square; use an undercut or withdrawal groove rather than an oversized radius that locks on the ring face.
- The 40.6/44 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 L68149 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF L 68149/111 designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
How does the L68149 inch-series designation work?
Inch-series tapered roller bearings use a Timken-style cone/cup convention: the number before the slash identifies the cone (inner ring with roller and cage assembly), the number after the slash identifies the cup (outer ring), and the L68100-series code marks the dimensional series. The metric dimensions 34.987×59.975×15.875 mm are the converted equivalents of the original inch boundary dimensions.
What do the cone and cup numbers in L68149 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 (L68100-series) groups sizes that share the same boundary-dimension plan.
Can a single L68149 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 L68149 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 L68149 position and vice versa — verify load direction, Fa/Fr ratio and speed before substituting.
What shaft and housing fits suit L68149?
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 15.875 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.
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.