Collection: SKF Insert Bearings (Y-Bearings)

SKF insert bearings designs are based on the SKF deep groove ball bearing designs but have spherical outer rings to enable them to be seated into a housing without needing to be pressed in.

Other typical features of SKF insert bearings include :

• They often have extended inner rings
• They usually contain a locking device either via grub screws or locking collar
• They can be quickly mounted onto a shaft

SKF Insert bearing designs

SKF insert bearings come in the following design variants

YAR SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring is extended on both sides and contains grub screws
YAT SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring extends on one side and contains grub screws
YEL SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring extends on both sides and has an eccentric locking collar
YET SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring extends on one side and has an eccentric locking collar
YHB SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring is extended on both sides and the bearings have an hexagonal bore
YHC SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring is extended on both sides and the bearings have an hexagonal bore
YQC SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring is extended on both sides and the bearings have a square bore
YSA SKF Insert Bearings – The inner ring extends on both side of the bearing symmetrically

SKF Insert bearings with an eccentric locking collar are suitable for use in applications where the direction of the rotation is consistent. One side of the bearing has an eccentric inner ring and when the collar is fitted and turned on the shaft once installed with the bearing, this locks the bearing onto the shaft.

SKF Insert bearings can also be supplied with a tapered shaft with a taper ratio of 1:12. This allows them to be mounted on the SKF Adapter Sleeve H23 series adapters. The insert bearings and adapter sleeves are supplied separately so please contact us if you need assistance in purchasing the appropriate sleeve.

SKF Also provide an insert bearing that is nearly identical bearing type to the SKF deep groove ball bearing series. These are in essence the same bearings but the insert bearing series have a spherical outer ring as opposed to a parallel outer ring on the deep groove ball bearing series. These bearings can accommodate heavier axial loads than other SKF Insert bearing designs and are also able to operate at the same speeds as the standard bearings.

In addition to the types above, SKF insert bearings are available with hexagonal and square bores. The bores of these bearings are often produced above the nominal dimension as the tolerance requirement isn’t as strict as with a round bore bearing. These bearings are most commonly used as agricultural disc harrow bearings.

SKF Insert bearing sealing arrangements

Sealing technology within bearings has improved vastly in recent decades. Historically the aim was to keep initial purchasing costs at their lowest possible point with an acceptance that regular maintenance would be required. Now with many industries operating around the clock, downtime is incredibly expensive and bearing changeovers are ideally done at regular service intervals as part of a preventative maintenance strategy. To accommodate this, bearing manufacturers such as SKF have developed ever more impressive sealing arrangements to match specific applications and provider a greater longevity in even the harshest operating environments.

SKF Insert bearings are available with :

Standard seals – These consist of a pressed steel washer with a sealing lip made of NBR rubber. Fixed to the outer ring these is a very narrow gap to the inner ring preventing contamination of the rolling elements

Standard seals with additional flinger seal – These are used in more contaminated environments. The additional flinger seal over the top of the standard seals have an interference fit on the inner ring of the bearing but don’t excessively increase friction

Multiple seals – These sealing arrangements are used in the most contaminated environments. Multiple combinations and directions of seals are used in tandem across the inner and outer rings. Friction is increased, making the bearings harder to turn and thereby using more energy but this is offset by the longevity of the bearings in harsh conditions. Applications such as slurry or soil working such as quarries of agriculture particularly benefit from these multiple seal arrangements. SKF have also started to design multiple seal bearings with a new mudblock seal which is designed for the harshest of environments and thereby providing even longer lengths of time between service intervals.

How to choose the right SKF insert bearing ?

When selecting a SKF insert bearing, firstly consider the operating conditions of the bearing. Make sure that you are selecting a bearing wit ha sealing arrangement that is suitable for your application. You want to achieve the right balance between performance and friction reduction. The better the sealing arrangement, the lower the possible RPM of the bearing due to the increased friction so check the specifications of the bearings that you are considering first to avoid problems later.

For more information on SKF bearings
You can check out the wider SKF product range here.
If you are looking to understand how the prefixes, suffixes and part numbers of SKF deep groove ball bearings are constructed then you can find that information here.