I had a Kohler Courage 15 on my lawn tractor built in 2009. Mowing 2.5-3 acres with it till this day. Tractor has no hour meter, but I'm sure it' has 300+ hours on it. Fixed leaking valve cover gasket with RTV (used old cork gasket since it was alright - just cleaned it), adjusted the valves clearance previous summer. Bolts didn't come loose, I check them regularly anyways. Apart from that no real issues, running well so far. I use the tractor for towing quite heavy trailer with it from time to time, my plot is very steep as well.

I have a 19hp with 800 hours. 3 valve cover gaskets, top cover bolts came loose and got into the flywheel around 550hrs but it didn't crack the block because i heard it screeching and pulled it apart immediately. Around 600hrs valves were way out of spec and just made it back to spec with the adjusters maxed out, carb rebuild was needed at the same time from sitting over the winters. Oil changes every 50hrs, no real consumption yet. Overall it's been a good engine for my typical homeowner use.

I had a cub with that engine. The first one did exactly what you mentioned about the flywheel shearing the bolts off. Kohler replaced the engine, but the new one smokes like a teenagers diesel truck. It definitely doesn’t have the power that the original had. The twin cylinder courage doesn’t seem to have the problems like the 18, 19, and 20 singles had. I wouldn’t trade 1 briggs and stratton intek for a dozen of the courage singles. One thing is for sure, it got its name honestly. It takes courage, and a lot of extra oil and parts to own one.

J-B Weld SteelStik Steel Reinforced Epoxy Putty Stick - Badly cracked block, cleaned it up with carb & intake cleaner, stuffed it in the crack like packing grease in a bearing - 2nd full summer mowing 2 acres, big hill... I check the oil before each use (as with every small engine), might lose a couple ounces. 2008 Cub Cadet LT1045 with a seized engine for $20, bought a $40 SV600 engine with a cracked block, 'J-B welded it', swapped it out. Cuts and cuts and cuts, doesn't owe me a cent.

I have the Kohler Courage 19HP... very much the same engine and have had no issues with it. Bought my Cub Cadet in 2012 and mine is just starting to seep oil around the valve cover so I have a new valve cover gasket for it. I also have not had any problems with the top engine cover bolts becoming loose, but I check them any way once in the Spring and once mid summer just to be safe. Overall the tractor has performed pretty good and I had to change out a starter solenoid about a year ago and am still running the original belts. I am a stickler when it comes to maintenance on my equipment and leave nothing to chance. Good video... thanks for the tips!👍

Totally agree! Its a great design, easy to work on and cheap parts! It does get ALOT of flack but they always say in the end..."not a bad motor"...lol!

I found this video because I was having a similar issue with my throttle body -- thought about putting a spring on but wanted to see if anyone out there had a better solution. So your video inspired me to go tinker around with it, but I kept thinking "what ordinarily pulls the choke forward? There's no chance the weight of that lever is solely responsible for keeping the choke open on idle" So, I wiggled it back and forth and looked for any indication of a missing spring or any other function that might pull it forward ... then I noticed that the choke spring on the carburetor itself was not correctly attached to the little plastic lever. So I attached it correctly and now I don't need to install my own spring. Nonetheless, this video was a tremendous help. Thanks for making it!

Thank you for the info. Just got a 2006 toro LX460 with this engine. I have the choke problem. I put a new cheapo carbon it. Runs great. But the choke don't return fully. So now I know what to do to fix it. Plus gonna check all the other stuff. I got tractor from local firehall. It was sitting outside a year an not used much. So I serviced it n mowed last season with it. But still working out lil issues here n there. Gotta leak on trans. Gets all over the brake assembly. Looks like a vent hole on front of trans not sure. But. Thanks for the info on the engine.

I noticed after having mine for a couple of years that I'd get smoke from the front of the engine. And I then noticed a pool of oil going to the muffler. And it was the top bolts were loose. So I tightened them, and then had to tighten them again a couple of years later, and they've never come loose since.

Very informative vid,will help someone ..

thanks got 2 one cracked block one loud gonna swap briggs on poulan put the loud or loose cover bolts on it.good in fo

Great information. My Kohler 18 hp is blowing oil like crazy. I'll now look for more oil leaks as I was thinking head gasket.

I bought a used Cub Cadet that a local lawnmower repair guy had replaced the engine on. It was a most similar engine, an 18 hp courage, and it had a cracked block exactly where you showed. I brought the mower home, and immediately pulled the plastic shroud and flywheel off, and removed the bolts from the "lid" and put locktite on all of them. Hopefully the engine holds up for a while.

Thanks for the insight

I've had one of these engines for almost ten years. Replaced it two years ago

You’re 100% correct about those top bolts. I have a 22hp Koehler courage, running 12 years strong. I got very lucky cuz for the first 10years I neglected to do the proper maintenance. I was dripping oil around the valve cover but the tail sign I was also leaking oil from around the top plate fly wheel area. I tore the motor down to the head, put a new head gasket on, new valve cover gasket. I additionally added a small heat deflector over the muffler, my theory was that the heat from the muffler dried the fork gasket out causing a drip, anywho no drips since I did that & tighten all the top plate bolts. My motor has well over 400 hours & is still running strong, every season now I double check all the bolts. Valuable lesson learned.😂

Nice Video!

Good points got a buddy who just picked up one on FB i explained the bolt issue to him when he purchased.

Belated congrats on monetization bro!

Great video, I didn't know that the front v valve cover would leak like that, I subscribed. I have a question, do you have a how to on hooking back up the choke and fuel linkage?

I just purchased a cub with the sv600. between the owner and local repair place it was taken apart with the governor gear busted. It appears that the carb was flooding and between the two the governor shaft was loosened and destroyed. I cleaned it out, cleaned oil pump replaced the governor and put it back together. It's has 200 hrs and the wear was minimal. The valve cover is absurd with huge gaps not lining up and rolling between. It appears to be designed to leak. This is my first Kohler, so I see how it goes. I've been running a Briggs vtwin 20hp the last 20years. The engine outlasted the mower though.

Great tips ken keep us updated #smallengination

On all of the kohler engines I've worked on the oil drain works loose..one even fell out..I've known about the sump cover bolts for a long time..i re torque every one of them..i use a lot of lock tight..and check the exhaust manifold bolts as well..they like to fall out..not crazy about the courage engine..

My 2008 Troy-Bilt Bronco is still running strong. I've had to replace that v gasket 2 times and it still leaks each time.

Kohler 7000 series for me 22 horsepower 725cc V Twin engine 3 year unlimited hours warranty

good video

Also the the engine bolts needs to be checked at the bottom. I had those come lose as well

Thanks for your tips. I bought a rider on the cheap side w/ this engine and it smokes and leaks, but I think I know what needs to be done.

Working without a manual on this engine, throttle is hanging wide open, no apparent missing or damaged parts. Question: What is the rod that goes into the engine, underneath the throttle assembly? has a bracket that is attached to the assembly, an rotates about 360 degrees. The bracket was loose, is all i could find. Thank you

How do ya replace plastic govener gear an side linkage

Thank you!!! Great video , I have a question about kohler ch750 30 hp, one of the exhaust stud got broken, on the right side of the engine, do you know the part number?

Hey ken, do you happen to know the size thread / bolt for the 20hp Kohler courage motor mounts? I got a mower missing the two towards the steering wheel and everywhere online says 3/8-16 but they don't seem to fit right and don't want to force it. Thanks.

I just pulled the cover off of this 20hp Kohler and checked my bolts. I did have a leak on the bottom of the valve cover. Do you have any videos on checking the governor?? This engine is racing real quick from the start. I have tried to find a video which will probable be much better than a typed version.

I know it's been 2 years lol but I have the 20hp Kohler courage I was wondering if you still had this tractor ? If you could get me a video of the governor springs and hook ups, I missing a spring just not sure which one

Ken, I just bought a used mower. Manyyrs old. Has a KOHLER 18 COURAGE. I POPPED THE FILTER COVER AND IT CAME OFF WITH COVER. I WANTTO ASSURE I PUT THE NEW ONE BACK ON PROPERLY. CAN YOU DO A QUICK VIDEO SHOWING ALIGNMENT / PLACEMENT OF FILTER. I CUT GRASS 2 TIMES AND THIRD TIME IT CUT OFF. TO ASSURE NO DAMAGE BEYOND, I LOOKED AND OIL FILTER WAS OLD, NEW OIL ADDED TO OLD OIL. SO I BOUGHT NEW AIR ,GAS, FILTERS SPARK PLUG AND OIL. AFTER VIEWING OTHER VIDEOS I WILL LOOK FOR LEAKING AROUND ROCKER ARM COVER,WEAR AREAS AND LUBE ALL JOINTS ASWELL. I HOPE THIS WILL RUN GOOD AFTER. I AM ON DISABILITY AND CANNOT AFFORD ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. I WILL SERVICE IT MYSELF TO ASSURE LITERALLY EVERYTHING IS CHECKED/CHANGED AND MAINTAINED. I AM ON HOLD WAITING FOR YOUR VIDEO. MOST HUMBLE APPRECIATION! Alton

Does this engine have an idle adjustment screw? Thanks, John

I have a Kohler courage 20HP cub cadet mower the engine reves uncontrollable I just bought it thinking a new carb would fix it now I'm finding out it may be the governor. How do I check it and make the determination is it carb or governor related? Thanks Jeff in Buffalo NY

can you show proper carb linkage the way it is supposed to be ?? bought mine used it is in a husqvarna 46 inch cut rider...ty

Can you tell me how to adjust carburetor on the Kroger engine.also need to know what size screw that holds air filter on the plastic part.someone did not put mine back

Mine cracked without even having the bolt hit the flywheel, go ahead and check them anyway

Have the same mower and engine top bolts are still tight and the valve cover was cleaned and hasn't leaked any more. It has started surging and losing power after 45 min running. Opened up the fuel cap and still doing it, and cleaned the carb recently and only use non ethanol fuel. Any ideas on what else I an check?

What is the best weight oil to run in these motors? Thanks

Do you have a video on Carb adjustment on this Courage for surging, also its sucking all my fuel up from my fuel filter do you know the fix if that carb adjustment doesn't work ?

JUst replaced ignition modules but when you shut off the engine , there is a humming sound so pulled the battery cable....when I attach the cable now it starts up without help....

Can you help? I have a lawn tractor with the Courage 15 engine. I started it this year and it blew smoke. Figured it might be the solenoid, so I replaced the carb and serviced it (including a new plug and checked gap and spark) - also added a fuel cut off. Now it will only start with some carb cleaner sprayed into the inlet. I tried removing the plunger from the solenoid in the old carb to rule out the wiring to the solenoid. But it's still the same. It seems to run well when it's started, but I could sit on the starter all day and it won't fire. Any ideas?

I have a weird problem with mine. The speed control lever moves up and down just fine with all the components underneath. Yet, engine runs at high speed only, regardless where the speed control lever is. In other words, it only has 1 speed, and it is high.

Mine cranks fast, has spark, plug looked good but maybe dry. Sprayed fluid in and put the plug back, no start. Any ideas. I cant find my compression guage.

Hey thanks for the tips. My issue is not enough fuel passing to the carb. I replaced it and even diss engaged the solenoid. Could it be a fuel pump? Where the heck is it?

hi ken have a 19hp seems to wants to run with the choke on . have any input to fix this issue thanks james

Hi, Why does my Kohler engine have a plastic carburetor mounting stud instead of a metal one ?

So you have to remove the flywheel to tighten the bolts

How do you remove the carburetor or the solenoid

Can you install a ks590 in place of a sv590?

I put a new carburetor on a 20 hp Kohler Courage single piston and it is still surging. Help!

There's another popular small engine guy on the KZfaq who says they're called a Courage, because you need courage to work on 'em...lol. He calls it the "bucket motor" because of the deep sump and top cover.

Where is the fuel pump located on this engine

just got one today, and my engine is cracked right where you said

I have one these , as soon as you turn it on it red lines . I opened it up and the governor gear was bad , replaced it but it still runs to fast and if you decrease the throttle the engine speed increases . lmao i have no idea what is happening now.

Mines about 10 years old. Still running strong. I probably wouldn't recommend the courage, but seems like i got lucky

10 yrs and no problem ...guess i am lucky

What cause’s gas in oil

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fpt1apugzeC8dY0.html At 42 seconds you can see the bolts that have loosened and touch the flywheel. FYI

Can you help me trouble shoot one not starting?

Same motor have gas in crank case

Best tip avoid them buy a model 25 14-17hp briggs OHV😉

Mine has 595.4 hours on it and it don’t leak at all

Engine will not start

Here's a tip don't buy one

Can't control the speed on my motor runs fast

They are shitty engines don't get me wrong they will last a bit but block cracks head gasket replacements .

Worst engine kohler made.