Cam followers & track rollers: types, dimensions & brand filters
Track-running bearings use reinforced outer rings; stud and yoke mounting arrangements differ.
On this page7 sections ⌄
What is this bearing type?
A cam follower is a track-running bearing, commonly built around a mounting stud with a thick outer ring. A yoke-type track roller uses a different mounting arrangement. Both must be checked against the track as well as the bearing itself.
| Part or design | What it does | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Outer ring | Runs against the cam or track. | Crowned and cylindrical running surfaces are different choices. |
| Stud or yoke mounting | Connects the follower to the mechanism. | Check thread, support and installation dimensions. |
| Internal rollers and seals | May use needle or cylindrical rollers, with caged or full-complement variants. | Retain the exact construction and closure. |
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally to read all three columns.
Variants that change the answer
An eccentric collar can provide adjustment on supported designs. Heavy-duty constructions and sealed/shielded forms have their own load and mounting requirements.
What the family name cannot tell you
The internal bearing rating alone does not establish allowable track load. Track condition and the mounting stud can limit the application; an ordinary radial bearing is not automatically a track-roller replacement.
Identify the exact part before comparing
- Identify stud versus yoke mounting and outer-ring shape.
- Compare track contact, stud strength and required axial guidance.
- Inspect the drawing for adjustment, lubrication access and mounting details.
Technical reference basis: IKO: Cam Followers; Introduction to Cam Follower Styles, Construction, Installation and Selection. Explanation and lookup workflow: BearingScope. Manufacturer-specific limits remain attached to the exact product record.
Cam followers and track rollers: dimensions, mounting and load checks
A track roller runs its outer surface along a track or cam. Identify the mounting first: an integral threaded stud and a separate shaft through a yoke-type follower are not the same interface. Then compare the rolling surface, track and exact designation.
Stud-type cam follower versus yoke-type roller follower
The term roller bearing is much broader than cam follower. Engine camshaft support bearings, conveyor end bearings and grooved guide wheels require their own construction checks.
| Design | Mounting identity | What must be checked |
|---|---|---|
| Stud-type cam follower | Integral stud with a specified fastening arrangement | Stud diameter, thread, usable length, supporting face and access. |
| Yoke-type roller follower | Bearing mounted on a separate shaft or pin | Bore, side support, shaft fit and axial retention. |
| Ordinary radial bearing used as a wheel | A different application of a bearing outer ring | Do not assume track-running capability from the normal bearing rating. |
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally.
Crowned, cylindrical, grooved and flanged rollers
IKO offers cylindrical and crowned follower surfaces. A crown can accommodate some alignment error, but it is not a universal cure for a distorted track. A matching roller diameter does not establish a matching crown, groove or guidance function.
| Outer surface | Selection question |
|---|---|
| Crowned | What alignment error and contact stress does the specified crown accommodate? |
| Cylindrical | Is the track sufficiently aligned and supported across the working width? |
| V-groove or U-groove | Does the groove match the actual guide geometry and load directions? |
| Flanged | Is the flange an approved guidance surface, and what side load is permitted? |
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally.
Selected IKO CF dimensions and thread variants
Dimensions below are nominal mm for the listed crowned, shield-type CF examples. d1 is stud diameter, D roller outside diameter and C roller width. C is not the total assembly length.
| IKO designation | d1 / D / C (mm) | Stud thread G |
|---|---|---|
| CF 6 BR | 6 / 16 / 11 | M6×1 |
| CF 8 BR | 8 / 19 / 11 | M8×1.25 |
| CF 8 BRM | 8 / 19 / 11 | M8×1 |
| CF 10 BR | 10 / 22 / 12 | M10×1.25 |
| CF 10-1 BR | 10 / 26 / 12 | M10×1.25 |
| CF 12 BR | 12 / 30 / 14 | M12×1.5 |
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally.
Basis: IKO Cam Followers, printed I25–I26. CF 8 BR and CF 8 BRM have different thread pitches. Obtain the full drawing for overall length, seating, lubrication and fastening details; this is not a complete IKO range or a SKF/McGill interchange table.
Eccentric adjustment is not a load rating
An eccentric follower changes the roller's position when its eccentric mounting is rotated. It can help set contact or alignment in a designed arrangement. It does not automatically divide load equally among all rollers.
Before replacing a concentric model with an eccentric one, establish the adjustment range, locking method, clearances and final contact condition. The machine design must define preload or clearance; do not tighten each follower against the track until motion feels stiff.
Check the bearing, stud and track separately
Do not take the largest number from a catalogue as the allowed machine load. An assembly can be limited by its track or mounting even when the bearing's fatigue calculation looks acceptable.
| Check | Meaning for selection |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | A fatigue-life input under the manufacturer's stated bearing conditions. |
| Static rating / permissible static load | Identify the exact published quantity; these are not necessarily identical. |
| Stud or pin support | Include bending, seating, fastening and the actual load direction. |
| Track capacity | Check the roller-track contact, track material, hardness and support. |
| Duty cycle | Include acceleration, impact, reversals, dwell and load sharing. |
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally.
Compare complete variants, not only CF and a number
For the IKO CF table above, R identifies the crowned version; the corresponding cylindrical version omits R. UU identifies sealed variants in that series. The BRM examples retain a distinct thread-pitch choice. Read codes in their complete series context.
For a cross-brand candidate, line up brand, full designation, mounting dimensions, outer profile, cage/full-complement construction, seals and ratings. An approximate name match belongs in a candidate list, not an approved replacement list.
Installation and lubrication checklist
- Isolate and support the mechanism; prevent unexpected movement of cams, slides and stored loads.
- Inspect the track and supporting faces, not only the removed follower.
- Match the complete thread and shoulder arrangement before installing the part.
- Use the exact model's tightening limit and prescribed locking method; do not infer torque from diameter alone.
- Identify the correct oil hole or grease access and whether the supplied model is prelubricated.
- Check travel, contact and retention through the machine's prescribed commissioning sequence.
A sealed follower is not automatically maintenance-free. No universal grease quantity, adjustment preload or service interval is specified here.
Match the application before selecting a catalogue row
The CF dimension chart supports component identification. It does not establish an engine fitment, a vehicle application or suitability for an unmeasured guide track.
| Application | Questions to resolve |
|---|---|
| Packaging or indexing cam | Cam profile, acceleration, repeated impacts and lubrication access? |
| Linear guide track | Roller spacing, load sharing, alignment and moment loads? |
| Conveyor guide | Contamination, track joints, side guidance and track wear? |
| High-temperature or washdown duty | Actual temperature/chemicals, seals, lubricant and material compatibility? |
| Engine valve train or dedicated machine assembly | OEM geometry and application-specific part evidence available? |
On a small screen, scroll the table horizontally.
Questions to settle before selecting a model
Is every track roller a cam follower?
No. Cam followers are one track-running construction. Separate-shaft followers, grooved wheels and other guide rollers use different interfaces.
Can I replace CF 8 BR with CF 8 BRM?
Do not treat them as identical: the listed IKO examples have M8×1.25 and M8×1 threads. Check the complete drawing and application.
Will a crowned roller fix any misalignment?
No. The selected crown and track must suit the actual contact condition. Severe misalignment or poor support still needs correction.
Can the dynamic bearing rating be used as track capacity?
No. Track contact, material and support require their own assessment, alongside bearing and mounting limits.
Reviewed 2026-10-02. Technical basis: NSK Needle Roller Bearings: cam and roller follower overview; IKO Roller Followers: mounting and outer-surface variants; IKO Cam Followers: identification, technical guidance and I25–I26 dimension examples. Original BearingScope explanation and checklists. General guidance is not a model-specific installation instruction or replacement approval.
Where this family is used
Cam mechanisms, conveyors and guided motion.
Read equipment selection guides →Selection and interchange checks
Check track contact stress, stud thread, eccentric adjustment, axial guidance and sealing.
Full verification checklist →Cam followers & track rollers — actual products
First 12 records. Open all results to filter brands and technical attributes. These are search candidates, not approved replacements.
| Brand / complete designation | Type | d×D×B (mm) | Closure | Original precision | Clearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SKF305701 C-2RS1 | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 12×35×15.9 | Seal on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305701 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 12×35×15.9 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305702 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 15×40×15.9 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305703 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 17×47×17.5 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305704 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 20×52×20.6 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305705 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 25×62×20.6 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305706 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 30×72×23.8 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305707 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with flat outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 35×80×27 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305800 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with crowned outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 10×32×14 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305801 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with crowned outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 12×35×15.9 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305802 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with crowned outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 15×40×15.9 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
| SKF305803 C-2Z | Cam roller (yoke-type track roller) with crowned outside surface, integral sealing and relubrication feature | 17×47×17.5 | Shield on both sides | Not reported | Not reported |
— = not recorded. Width conventions differ for tapered assemblies, thrust bearings and mounted units. Always inspect the dimensional drawing.
Filter all 2,075 records →All recorded subtypes in this family
Original catalogue descriptions are preserved in the records. Identical display names, including singular/plural variants, share one combined entry. Selecting a subtype opens its brand and technical filters.
No subtype matches this text.
Reference basis & data limits
Manufacturer terminology is retained in the product records. Technical reference basis: JTEKT Basic Bearing Knowledge (boundary dimensions, tolerance classes and lubrication); NSK Bearing ABCs (lubrication, designations and clearance); NTN technical FAQs (closure codes and component interchange); SKF rolling-bearing selection and maintenance references.
Selection workflows and catalogue grouping are BearingScope editorial aids. Verify the current drawing and application requirements before using a candidate. Missing database information is not converted into an assumed match.