Hey y'all. Has anyone broke a rod or piston in the kohlers. Just wondering if they have a common week spot like the 35,s ? Thanks in advance

2002, 25 hp kohler, no mods........just noticed an oil leak that appears to be from a rear seal, other than that it's been a strong motor.

The commercial lawn mower guys put several thousand hours on them. I would say that there is not a weak point on them if used within factory specs.

They are not making several thousand hours they all last about 1800 to 2500 hours stock lawn owner motors. U r just not hearing about them replacing motors and complaining they cut way more than what a new one costs so they don't get complained about when they have to be replaced


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Kohlers have lots of head and valve issues and so do Kawasaki but Kawasaki tends to throw rods at 2000 hours motors that are being hopped up through head work r only making the engines more efficient and lasting longer than stock


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Thank yall for the input . No doubt these are solid ol motors. Mine is a 25 on a 1636 duracraft. Its been great. Anybody broke a rod or piston from too much power? Hot rod mods?

This one does have ported heads +3 on timing pipes an + .008 on the main jet. I have never put a big cam in a longtail. I was wonderin it that would be too much an sling a rod. So far i havnt heard of em breakin in the kohlers?

Will, I would not buy a modified mud motor engine used unless you talk to the builder and know that high quality components were used in the build. Advanced timing and long duration cam means more heat, it could have stock components. Where we take these engines reliability is
what I value most. Good luck

Call Julian at Midwest Supercub.

Thanks yall. And 10 4 on midwest. They seem to be the only players for the kohlers

just to give you an idea about the 25 with some mild mods, here's what I did and what I'm running.
ported/polished heads, heads decked 30 thousandths, thin copper head gasket, valve job, jetted stock carb, and gutted exhaust. I'm waiting until i can upgrade the carb before replacing cam.

heavy 2 person hunting load (blind, dog, 3 dozen decoys, camp stove, and personnel gear) 17mph in deep water and 19mph in shallow water while turning a semi worn 9*6 prop @ 3900.

I'm waiting on some kohler rev limiting coils or a way to rig the governor on an aftermarket carb before carb upgrade. I'll upgrade cam after i get the carb/governor/coils figured out.

I've had two 25's and now one 27 Kohler (2004) and they have been rock solid. No major failures with any of them. I've often thought of mods but I'm getting 20 mph by myself and 17 mph with two hunters and gear with a stock motor ( on a 1648 grizzly)- the only "mod" is advancing the throttle to 4200 rpm out of the water. I can see the benefit with shortail motors with reduction gear but frankly can't see much in the longtail- you get to a point in increased rpms where there is no mph gain right? In fact, though my 27 is rated for a 9x7 prop, I run a 9x6 which runs 1.5 mph faster.

Seems like we are in the same boat My stock jetted carb is at its limit. Next step is to find some coils or some type of rev limiter. Anybody know if the rev limiter kits for the non cdi 35 would work on kohler? And can the black box be adjusted? I guess i could call midwest on this too