GE..E(S) GE..ES 2RS Series — Spherical Plain Bearing Standard Type Maintenance Required

GE..ES / 2RS — 23 bore sizes · d 6–160 mm · Dynamic load 3.4–1,360 kN · Lubrication grooves & sealed options.

MOQ: 50 pcs. Minimum order value USD 1,500; mixed orders and trial quantities welcome.


Spherical Plain Bearings › Standard Type

GE..E(S) GE..ES 2RS Series — Spherical Plain Bearing Standard Type Maintenance Required

23 bore sizes · d 6–160 mm · Dynamic load 3.4–1,360 kN · Lubrication grooves & sealed options

Maintenance Required23 Sizes 6–160mmES Lube Grooves2RS Lip SealsPhosphate Treated

🆕 Series Overview

The GE..ES and GE..ES 2RS series are the industry-standard maintenance-required spherical plain bearings covering 23 bore sizes from 6 mm to 160 mm. The spherical sliding contact between the inner ring's convex outer surface and the outer ring's concave inner bore allows the bearing to accommodate angular misalignment between the shaft and housing, making these bearings essential wherever structural deflection, thermal expansion, or mounting inaccuracy cause shaft misalignment.

Three designation variants address different sealing requirements: GE..E (basic open type, no seals), GE..ES (lubrication grooves and oil holes in both rings for improved grease distribution), and GE..ES 2RS (lip seals on both sides of the outer ring for contamination exclusion and grease retention). All three share identical bore and housing dimensions — specify by suffix based on the lubrication and sealing requirement of the application.

GE..ES / 2RS spherical plain bearing product view

⚙ Key Design Features

🔁

Angular Misalignment

Spherical sliding contact accommodates angular misalignment between shaft and housing axes. Misalignment angle α listed in specification table for each size.

🔒

2RS Lip Seals

Outer ring lip seals on both sides retain grease and exclude contamination. Suitable for dusty, wet, and outdoor environments without additional housing seals.

⚙

ES Lubrication Grooves

Circumferential groove and radial holes in both outer and inner rings distribute re-lubrication grease evenly across the full spherical contact surface.

🔎

Single Axial Split

Outer ring has one axial split enabling installation by pressing the inner ring axially through the outer ring bore — no disassembly of adjacent components required.

🔭

Phosphate Surface Treatment

Both outer and inner rings are phosphate-treated to improve corrosion resistance and initial grease adhesion at the sliding contact surface.

📈

23 Bore Sizes

6 mm to 160 mm covering light instrument linkages through heavy industrial pivot joints and hydraulic cylinder clevis pins.

📋 Complete Specification Table

ⓘ Load ratings in kN. d = inner ring bore, D = outer ring OD, B = bearing width, C = inner ring width, Dk = inner ring shoulder diameter. α = maximum misalignment angle in degrees. Weight in grams.

Part Number Part Number 2RS d (mm) D (mm) B (mm) C (mm) Dk (mm) R1s R2s α° Dyn C (kN) Sta Co (kN) Wt (g)
GE6E — 6 14 6 4 10 0.3 0.3 13 3.4 17 4
GE8E — 8 16 8 5 13 0.3 0.3 15 5.5 27.5 7
GE10E — 10 19 9 6 16 0.3 0.3 12 8.15 40.5 11
GE12E — 12 22 10 7 18 0.3 0.3 11 10.8 54 16
GE15ES GE15ES 2RS 15 26 12 9 22 0.3 0.3 8 17 85 25
GE16ES GE16ES 2RS 16 30 14 10 25 0.3 0.3 10 21.2 106 41
GE17ES GE17ES 2RS 17 30 14 10 25 0.3 0.3 10 21.2 106 41
GE20ES GE20ES 2RS 20 35 16 12 29 0.6 0.3 9 30 146 61
GE25ES GE25ES 2RS 25 42 20 16 35.5 0.6 0.6 7 48 240 110
GE30ES GE30ES 2RS 30 47 22 18 40.7 0.6 0.6 6 82 310 140
GE35ES GE35ES 2RS 35 55 25 20 47 0.6 1.0 6 80 400 220
GE40ES GE40ES 2RS 40 62 28 22 53 0.6 1.0 7 100 500 300
GE45ES GE45ES 2RS 45 68 32 25 60 0.6 1.0 7 132 640 400
GE50ES GE50ES 2RS 50 75 35 28 66 0.6 1.0 6 156 780 540
GE60ES GE60ES 2RS 60 90 44 36 80 1.0 1.0 6 245 1220 1000
GE70ES GE70ES 2RS 70 105 49 40 92 1.0 1.0 6 315 1560 1500
GE80ES GE80ES 2RS 80 120 55 45 105 1.0 1.0 6 400 2000 2200
GE90ES GE90ES 2RS 90 130 60 50 115 1.0 1.0 5 490 2450 2700
GE100ES GE100ES 2RS 100 150 70 55 130 1.0 1.0 7 610 3050 4300
GE110ES GE110ES 2RS 110 160 70 55 140 1.0 1.0 6 655 3250 4700
GE120ES GE120ES 2RS 120 180 85 70 160 1.0 1.0 6 950 4750 8000
GE140ES GE140ES 2RS 140 210 90 70 180 1.0 1.0 7 1080 5400 11000
GE160ES GE160ES 2RS 160 230 105 80 200 1.0 1.0 8 1360 6800 14000
GE..ES / 2RS dimensional drawing

🔄 Interchange / Cross-Reference Table

GBC spherical plain bearings are dimensionally interchangeable with the following major brand designations:

GBC SKF FAG ELGES IKO NTN NMB
GE..E(S) GE..E GE..E GE..DO GE..E SA1~..B SBH..NS
GE..ES 2RS GE..ES GE..ES GE..DO 2RS GE..ES 2FRS SA1~..BSS SBH..S
GEG..E(S) GEH..E GEH..E GE..FO GEG..E GE..G —
GE..C GE..C GE..C GE..UK GE..C SAR1~... —
GE..ET 2RS GE..TE 2TS GE..UA 2RS GE..UK 2RS GE..ET 2RS — —
PB — — GE..PB GEBK..S PB.. —

🔭 Materials & Construction

Inner and outer rings are manufactured from 100Cr6 chrome-bearing steel (GCr15 / AISI 52100), through-hardened to HRC 58–64. The spherical contact surfaces are precision-ground and lapped to Ra 0.1–0.2 µm for smooth sliding and uniform load distribution. Both rings are phosphate-treated prior to assembly to improve initial corrosion resistance and grease retention. NBR lip seals (2RS variants) are rated −30°C to +110°C.

●

100Cr6 Chrome Steel

Inner and outer rings HRC 58–64. Spherical surfaces ground and lapped to Ra 0.1–0.2 µm.

🔭

Phosphate Treatment

Applied to both rings for corrosion resistance and improved grease adhesion at the sliding contact.

🔒

NBR Seals (2RS)

Lip seals −30°C to +110°C. FKM seals available for elevated temperature duty above +110°C.

🏭 Typical Applications

⚙

Hydraulic Cylinders

Clevis-pin joints at cylinder rod and barrel ends require spherical plain bearings to accommodate the angular misalignment that develops as the cylinder extends and the load point shifts.

📈

Agricultural Machinery

Linkage pivot joints in ploughs, cultivators, and baler mechanisms use GE..ES bearings for their self-aligning capability and tolerance of intermittent contamination.

🔎

Construction Equipment

Boom hinge pins, bucket linkage pivots, and outrigger pad joints in excavators and cranes use large-bore GE..ES bearings for their high load capacity and self-aligning function.

⚙

Industrial Linkages

Connecting rod big-end bearings, eccentric drive mechanisms, and oscillating conveyor pivot points in general industry use GE..ES bearings for alignment compensation.

🔭

Automotive Steering

Steering column universal joints and rack end joints in heavy commercial vehicles use GE..ES bearings for their combination of misalignment accommodation and high static load capacity.

📈

Textile Machinery

Weaving loom beater mechanisms and rapier guide arms use medium-bore GE..ES 2RS sealed bearings for contamination resistance in the lint-rich environment.

GE..ES / 2RS bearing in application

🔧 Installation & Maintenance

🔎 Housing Bore Tolerance

H7 for normal loads; K7 or M7 for heavy loads. Press the outer ring into the housing using a press tool on the outer ring end face — never press through the inner ring.

🔧 Shaft Tolerance

h6 for press fit; js6 for tight sliding fit; f7 for free sliding fit. Apply a thin film of assembly lubricant to the shaft before installation.

📈 Initial Lubrication

Apply NLGI-2 EP grease through the oil hole or fitting before commissioning. Fill the cavity between seals (2RS) approximately 30–40% with grease — do not overfill.

⚙ Re-lubrication

Re-lubricate every 200–500 hours depending on load and contamination level. Purge until fresh grease appears at the seal face or fitting exit point.

🌡 Temperature Limit

Standard grease and NBR seals: −30°C to +110°C continuous. For higher temperatures, specify FKM seals and synthetic EP grease rated to the operating temperature.

🔒 Misalignment Limit

Do not exceed the α angle in the specification table. Sustained operation beyond the rated angle causes edge loading and premature wear at the spherical contact edges.

🔎 Selection Guide

Select GE..ES when the bore diameter matches the shaft nominal diameter and the application requires periodic re-lubrication. Select GE..ES 2RS when contamination exclusion and extended re-lubrication intervals are needed. Verify the dynamic load rating C against the equivalent radial load P using the life equation L = (C/P)^(10/3) × 10⁶ oscillations.

①

Identify Load Type

Confirm whether the application is oscillating (spherical plain bearing) or continuously rotating (use a rolling-element bearing instead). Spherical plain bearings are suited for oscillation up to ±45° at low frequency.

②

Select Bore & Series

Match bore d to shaft nominal diameter. Select ES suffix for grease-lubricated applications; 2RS for contaminated or wet environments.

③

Verify Misalignment Angle

Verify maximum misalignment angle against rated α in the table. Calculate equivalent radial load including any axial component. Check dynamic load rating C ≥ P × (L/10⁶)^(3/10).

④

Contact Us

MOQ 100 units. Contact our team with bore diameter, load case, misalignment angle, oscillation frequency, and operating environment.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

▶ What is the difference between GE..E, GE..ES, and GE..ES 2RS?

GE..E is the basic open type with no seals. GE..ES adds lubrication grooves and oil holes in both the outer and inner rings to improve grease distribution during re-lubrication. GE..ES 2RS adds lip seals on both sides of the outer ring to retain grease and exclude contamination — the most common choice for industrial use where contamination is a concern.

▶ How often should the bearing be re-lubricated?

Re-lubrication interval depends on load, speed, temperature, and contamination level. As a starting point: under moderate load and normal industrial conditions, re-lubricate every 200–500 hours of operation with NLGI-2 EP grease. In oscillating or slowly rotating applications, re-lubricate more frequently. Bearings should be purged until fresh grease appears at the seal or fitting.

▶ What shaft and housing tolerances are recommended?

Inner ring bore: shaft tolerance h6 or js6 for press fit; f7 for sliding fit. Outer ring in housing: housing bore tolerance H7 or K7 for normal conditions; M7 for heavy loads. Refer to the ISO tolerance tables in the catalogue for specific fits by bore diameter range.

▶ What is the maximum misalignment angle?

The maximum misalignment angle α is listed in the specification table for each size. This represents the maximum angle between the inner and outer ring axes. Exceeding this angle causes edge loading at the spherical race and significantly reduces service life. Align shafts as accurately as possible and use the spherical capacity only to accommodate unavoidable structural deflection.

▶ Can GE..ES bearings be used in high-temperature environments?

Standard GE..ES bearings with NBR seals and mineral-oil grease are rated for continuous operation up to +120°C. For elevated temperatures up to +200°C, specify high-temperature grease and FKM seals. For cryogenic applications below −30°C, use low-temperature grease. Contact GBC for specific temperature requirements outside the standard range.

📞 Ready to Order?

MOQ is 100 units per model. Provide bore diameter, housing bore, radial and axial loads, misalignment angle, oscillation amplitude and frequency, and operating environment. All catalogue data is for reference only — verify against current drawings before finalising design.

GE..ES / 2RS — 23 bore sizes · d 6–160 mm · Dynamic load 3.4–1,360 kN · Lubrication grooves & sealed options.

MOQ: 50 pcs. Minimum order value USD 1,500; mixed orders and trial quantities welcome.

quote form