Carburetor For Kohler CV12.5 CV13S CV13T CV14 CV14S CV15S New

What It Is

This is an aftermarket carburetor assembly designed to replace the stock carb on Kohler Courage V-Twin (CV) series engines, commonly used in riding mowers, zero-turns, and garden tractors from brands like Cub Cadet, John Deere, and Troy-Bilt. It meters fuel and air into the engine for combustion.

Fitment & Compatibility

Before buying, verify your engine model is one of these: CV12.5, CV13S, CV13T, CV14, CV14S, or CV15S. Check the stamped engine ID plate (not the mower model) for exact numbers—Kohler often uses suffixes like “-12345.” This carb fits engines with a single-barrel, side-draft design, typically with a 1-inch throttle bore and standard 5/16-inch fuel line inlet. Measure your old carb’s mounting bolt spacing (usually 2.5 inches center-to-center) and overall height to confirm. It’s a non-OEM part, so it may lack the same gasket thickness or choke linkage as the original Kohler unit.

Key Things to Know

• Quality varies: At $15.99, this is a budget aftermarket carb. Expect thinner castings, less precise jetting, and possible need for adjustment. Many users report success, but some get DOA units with stuck floats or debris.
• Installation difficulty: Moderate. You’ll need to swap over your old choke and throttle linkage, and possibly reuse the original bowl gasket or o-ring if the included one leaks. Expect 30-60 minutes if you’re handy.
• Common gotchas: The included fuel line may be too short or wrong diameter—keep your old line. Also, the carb may need minor choke plate trimming to clear the engine shroud on some CV models.
• Tuning required: After install, you’ll likely need to adjust the idle and main jet screws (typically 1.5 turns out from seated as a baseline). A tachometer helps for precise idle speed.

Should You Buy It

Buy this if you have a Kohler CV12.5–CV15S engine with a dead or clogged carb and want a cheap fix for a mower that’s not worth a $70 OEM part. It’s fine for DIYers who can handle minor adjustments and don’t mind a bit of tinkering. Skip if you need exact factory performance or a plug-and-play swap—go OEM or a higher-end aftermarket carb instead.