K12X15X13-TN bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The K12X15X13-TN is a DIN 5402 radial bearing sized 12 x 15 x 13 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 12 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 15 mm |
| Width B | 13 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | polymer (PA66 glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 6.16 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 8.65 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 0.98 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 26000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 30000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 2.3 g |
| Manufacturer designation | K 12x15x13 TN |
| Standard | DIN 5402 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies); 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 & K-series range
| Bore d | 0.472 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.591 in |
| Width B | 0.512 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 1.5 mm |
| Smallest bore in K-series | 3 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in K-series | 63 mm |
| Width range across K-series | 7–32 mm |
| Bore position in K-series (smallest first) | 9 of 22 |
| Bore above smallest K-series size | 9 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the K12X15X13-TN model number is decoded
SKF catalogue number K 12x15x13 TN denotes a needle roller and cage assembly for a 12 mm shaft seat — the cage spaces the rollers, the machine parts provide both raceways, and the 13 mm width is all the radial room it needs. Reading the designation: K marks the needle roller and cage assembly, the three numbers give Fw 12 (shaft journal), E 15 (assembly outside diameter) and B 13 (width) in millimetres — the machine parts complete the bearing. The TN suffix marks a glass fibre reinforced PA66 cage snapping the rollers in place — lighter and quieter than steel; assemblies are also supplied unmarked with steel cages for higher temperature duty. Speed planning separates the two ceilings: 26,000 r/min thermal reference and 30,000 r/min mechanical limiting — needle bearings tolerate high rpm only with adequate lubricant film at the 12 mm seat. Mounting: grind the 12 mm journal to the catalogue raceway tolerance after hardening to 58–64 HRC, bore the housing to E 15 mm H6, and slide the assembly in axially — pressing through the cage distorts it and locks the rollers.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- rocker arm and rocker pin pivots on camshafts
- pump and gearbox idler gears running on hardened pins
- hinge and pivot joints in printing and textile machinery
- universal joint crosses on commercial vehicles
Known failure patterns
- needle edge loading and raceway denting when the shaft deflects beyond the compensation range
- cage pocket wear and roller skew after sustained operation with too little radial preload
- grease starvation at the roller ends when relubrication intervals are stretched in dirty duty
- rolling-contact fatigue spalling after the rated L10 life
- rapid raceway scoring when the shaft journal hardness drops below 58 HRC or the ground finish wears away
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On a 12 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 15 mm ring or cup into a lobed shape, and the rollers then trace the housing's geometry error, not the design load.
- Contamination, not fatigue, kills most small needle bearings: with raceways this narrow, one hard particle dents a full-width line — seal the housing even when the bearing execution itself is open.
- Do not interchange envelope-identical needle families blindly: K 12x15x13 TN shares its 12×15×13 mm outline with inner-ring and sealed siblings whose ratings differ — the family letters are part of the specification, not decoration.
- The 6.16/8.65 kN ratings and 2.3 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 616); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
Does the K 12x15x13 TN need a hardened and ground shaft?
No. In this execution the 12 mm shaft journal is the inner raceway: it must be ground and hardened to 58–64 HRC (with matching housing bore quality on the outside). If the shaft cannot meet that, order the inner-ring sibling (NKI/NA execution) plus its ground inner ring instead.
What mounting mistakes ruin a K 12x15x13 TN?
Slide the assembly over the ground 12 mm journal with a mounting sleeve, bore the housing to E 15 mm, and retain with a washer spanning the cage. Never press against the cage or rotate before the bearing is lubricated and loaded.
Is the K 12x15x13 TN sealed?
No — this execution is open and depends on the housing sealing arrangement; grease it at assembly and keep the relubrication interval short in dirty duty.
Which dimensions does the K 12x15x13 TN have?
A K 12x15x13 TN measures 12 mm bore/Fw × 15 mm outside diameter × 13 mm width (0.472 × 0.591 × 0.512 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 6.16 kN, static C0 8.65 kN, fatigue limit Pu 0.98 kN, limiting speed 30,000 r/min, reference speed 26,000 r/min, mass about 2.3 g.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.1 needle roller and cage assemblies on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.