KOHLER Courage SV530, Are They Still Bad Engines?

Oldtractorfun · Jul 22, 2014

I was looking at an Ariens model 936064 with a 17hp 597cc KOHLER Courage SV530 engine.
From reading on the net I have found they were a junk engine, liked to self destruct at very low hours, less then 50 in many cases. I see on the Kohler website they have retired all the SV engines now that end in a 0 and replaced them with engines that end in a 1 except for the SV530.

Is the SV530 one of the junk engines or did they fix the problem with the Courage engines? I read it takes courage to own a Courage, thought that was kind of funny.

The other mower I am looking at is a Deere D105 with a B&S 17hp 420cc engine. Not sure what model the B&S engine is.

I know they are the low end mowers but all I can afford right now that I am not working at the moment and everything has decide to start breaking down. The mower is the latest in the list.

thanks
Terry

jeffcat · Jul 23, 2014

Guy down the street does a LOT of mower repairs. The Kohler you are asking about is like 2006 and there was a three year recal on them. You guessed it..no more recall. Very thin wall on right side of engine and maybe metalergey. This guy has taken them apart and mig weld the crack. I have seen big wads of JB weld too. I LOVE..LOVE..LOVE my Briggs twins. NOW......one of them has a little oil leak. The top and bottom seam develops a leak. The bolts were not tight enough or something. I was told to pull the engine ,flip her over and take the two halves apart. Clean her up and reseal with new gasket and blue RTV . Random tourq the bolts and use lock tight. Will do her next week. I would tell you to get the twin V Briggs. They run soooooooo smoooooooth!!!!!! The Kohler trouble is fixed now , "sure" , but I would go with the Briggs. Jeffcat

W_B · Jul 24, 2014

Not specific to your question but I have a twin cylinder Courage in a Husqvarna rider (54" deck, hydro trans) with over 500 hrs on it. Still running strong.

T.R.K. · Jul 24, 2014

The single cylinder Courage engines did have many problems.

The Courage twins were not so bad, but at least some of the twins used the rods and pistions from the Command engines.

That said, I have seen several Courage singles with over 300 hours on them and still going strong. Of course they were serviced properly to live that long. Regular oil and air filter changes are one key to any engine"s longevity.

I guess it would be a 50/50 chance of getting a good used Courage Single.

W_B · Jul 31, 2014

(quoted from post at 02:50:35 07/25/14)
The Courage twins were not so bad, but at least some of the twins used the rods and pistions from the Command engines.

Good to know that T.R.K.! Wife was concerned I'd made a bad buy when I got the Husqy last year.

KOHLER Courage SV530, Are They Still Bad Engines?

Oldtractorfun

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jeffcat

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W_B

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T.R.K.

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W_B

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