Kohler 12-050-1 Oil Filter Cross Reference (KH-12-050-1-S Equivalents)
The Kohler 12-050-01 is the middle of Kohler's three spin-on sizes: a 3/4-16 can about 2.75 in tall, with an anti-drainback valve and an 8 psi bypass. Its equivalents are WIX 51056, FRAM PH8172, Baldwin B1410, ACDelco PF2210, STP S3512, Purolator L35310 and NAPA Gold 1056. KH-12-050-01-S is Cub Cadet's number for the same filter.
Kohler 12-050-01 Equivalents by Brand
WIX's lookup sends the Kohler 12-050-01 to its 51056, and so do the 12-050-01-S, 12-050-01-S1, 12-050-08 and Cub Cadet's KH-12-050-01-S. I confirmed each row below by searching that number in WIX's lookup, Baldwin's, or both.
| Brand | 12-050-01 equivalent | Confirmed by |
|---|---|---|
| WIX | 51056 | WIX, Baldwin |
| FRAM | PH8172 | WIX, Baldwin |
| Baldwin | B1410 | Baldwin |
| ACDelco | PF2210 | WIX |
| STP | S3512 | WIX |
| Purolator | L35310 | WIX |
| NAPA Gold | 1056 | WIX |
Baldwin's search sends every Kohler 12-050-01 and 12-050-08 variant to its B1410, including Cub Cadet's KH1205001S and KH1205008. K&N's cross reference index lists no Kohler 12-050-01 and no PH8172, so I found no K&N equivalent.
What KH-12-050-01-S Means
The KH prefix is not Kohler's. It is how Cub Cadet and its sister brands such as Troy-Bilt number Kohler parts, and WIX's lookup names Cub Cadet as the maker of the KH1205001S. The filter inside is the same 12-050-01.
The -S and -S1 endings appear on Kohler's own numbers too, and WIX and Baldwin cross the 12-050-01, 12-050-01-S and 12-050-01-S1 to the same part.
Kohler's Three Filter Sizes
Kohler uses three spin-ons that share a thread and a gasket and differ in length. An owner who asked Kohler which to fit posted Kohler's reply on a TractorByNet thread: small, 2.25 in, the 28-050-01-S; medium, 2.75 in, the 12-050-01-S; and large, 3.5 in, the 52-050-02-S.
| Kohler | Baldwin | Baldwin length | WIX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28-050-01 (small) | B7165 | 58.7 mm | 57035 |
| 12-050-01 (medium) | B1410 | 73.0 mm | 51056 |
| 52-050-02 (large) | BT223 | 88.9 mm | WL10068 |
Baldwin's lengths match Kohler's three sizes almost exactly. The B7165 is 2 5/16 in long, the B1410 is 2 7/8 in and the BT223 is 3 1/2 in, and all three use Baldwin's G449-B gasket on a 3/4-16 thread.
Which Engines Take the 12-050-01
Kohler's maintenance kit catalogue lists the 12 050 01 in two of its eleven twin-cylinder kits and the 52 050 02 in the other nine. Troy-Bilt's parts catalogue describes the 12-050-01-S as fitting the CV17 to CV26 and CH17 to CH26 and many Courage, Command, Aegis and Triad engines.
The engine's own parts list is the deciding document. On one owner thread, a member found the 52-050-02 listed for a 26 hp Courage while the Command used a different filter.
Kohler 12-050-01 Size and Specs
Kohler publishes no spec sheet for the 12-050-01 that I could find, so the figures come from its equivalents. They agree on the thread, the valves and the gasket, and differ on height by up to 8 mm.
| Spec | WIX 51056 | Baldwin B1410 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 2.638 in (67 mm) | 73.0 mm |
| Outside diameter | 2.921 in (74 mm) | 76.2 mm |
| Bypass valve | 8 to 11 psi | 8 PSID |
| Anti-drainback valve | Yes | Yes |
WIX rates the 51056 at 325 psi burst and 21 micron nominal, on a 2.734 by 2.430 in gasket. Baldwin gives the B1410 a 23 micron nominal and 45 micron absolute rating, and FRAM lists its PH8172 at 2.560 in tall.
Is the PH8170 the Same as the Kohler 12-050-01?
No. Many listings pair the 12-050-01 with the FRAM PH8170, but WIX and Baldwin both put the PH8170 with Kohler's small 28-050-01 instead. WIX sends the PH8170 and the Kohler 28-050-01 to its 57035, and Baldwin sends the PH8170 to its B7165, the 58.7 mm can.
That group also takes in the Briggs & Stratton 492932 and the Kawasaki 49065-0721. Troy-Bilt's catalogue page for the 12-050-01-S lists those numbers among the parts it replaces, which merges two sizes that WIX and Baldwin keep apart.
On Baldwin's figures the small size is about 14 mm shorter than the medium, and FRAM's own pages put the PH8170 at 2.260 in against 2.560 in for the PH8172. The PH8172 is FRAM's medium-size match.
Can You Use the Longer 52-050-02 Instead?
Kohler said yes in the reply that owner posted: the longer filter can be used with no issues, but the crankcase may need more oil, so check the dipstick. WIX lists its 52-050-02 equivalent, the WL10068, at 3.199 in on the same 2.734 by 2.430 in gasket and 8 psi bypass.
Check for clearance first, since the longer can sits about 16 mm lower on Baldwin's figures. Some owners go further and fit an automotive can such as the 86 mm WIX 51348, which shares the thread and gasket, though that is the owners' choice and not something Kohler lists.
The Original Can May Be Longer Than the Replacement
One owner on a TractorByNet thread about the Kohler Pro Performance filter found the factory filter measured about 3 by 3 in, while the 12-050-01-S1 sold as its replacement was nearly half an inch shorter. If the filter you take off is taller than 2.75 in, it may have been a different size from the start.
How to Change a Kohler 12-050-01
Kohler's owner's manual for the CH and CV620 to 750 engines says to fill the new filter with oil until it reaches the bottom of the threads, then follow the installation instructions on the filter itself.
- Drain the oil with the engine warm.
- Pre-fill the new filter to the bottom of the threads and let the media soak.
- Oil the gasket and spin the filter on by hand. Kohler's service manual for the Command CV11 to 16 gives an oil filter torque of 90 to 110 in. lb.
- Refill and check the dipstick after a short run, especially if you fitted a longer filter.
How Often to Change It
The same owner's manual sets a 200-hour oil filter interval, with oil every 100 hours. Only the KOHLER PRO filter used with KOHLER PRO 10W-50 oil gets 300 hours, and the manual states that other filters require the 200-hour interval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WIX equivalent of the Kohler 12-050-01? The WIX 51056. WIX's lookup returns it for the Kohler 12-050-01, 12-050-01-S, 12-050-01-S1 and 12-050-08 and for Cub Cadet's KH-12-050-01-S. WIX lists it at 2.638 in tall on a 3/4-16 thread with an 8 to 11 psi bypass and an anti-drainback valve.
What FRAM filter replaces the Kohler 12-050-01? The FRAM PH8172. WIX sends both the PH8172 and the Kohler 12-050-01 to its 51056, and Baldwin sends both to its B1410. The PH8170 that many listings pair with it crosses to Kohler's smaller 28-050-01 instead, which is the short size of the three.
Is KH-12-050-01-S the same as Kohler 12-050-01? Yes. KH is the prefix Cub Cadet and its sister brands use for Kohler parts, and WIX and Baldwin cross the KH1205001S to the same WIX 51056 and Baldwin B1410 as Kohler's own 12-050-01. The -S and -S1 endings cross to the same filter too.
Can I use a 52-050-02 instead of a 12-050-01? Kohler told one owner the longer 52-050-02 can be used, as long as you check the oil level, since the bigger can holds more. It shares the thread and gasket and is about 16 mm longer on Baldwin's figures, so check that it clears the frame before you fit it.
What to Do Next
If your engine's parts list says 12-050-01, any filter in the first table fits, and the PH8172 is the FRAM to ask for. If the box says PH8170, it is the small size, and if you want more capacity, the 52-050-02 is the size Kohler itself said can go on.
