Kohler KT17 / Magnum Twin Rebuild Center
The Kohler KT17 and KT19 and the Magnum M18, M20, MV16, MV18 and MV20 are air-cooled, L-head twin-cylinder engines that all share one bore. This page covers which engines they are, the part numbers our parts replace, and the checks that get you the right parts the first time.
At a glance
| Engines | KT17, KT19 · Magnum M18, M20 (horizontal shaft) · MV16, MV18, MV20 (vertical shaft) |
|---|---|
| Standard bore | 3.125 inch (79.4mm) on all seven |
| Stroke | KT17, M18, MV16, MV18: 2.750 inch (KT17, M18 and MV16 are 691cc) KT19, M20, MV20: 3.062 inch (770cc) |
| Standard piston | KT17, M18, MV16, MV18: replaces 52-874-11-S KT19, M20, MV20: replaces 52-874-16-S |
| Ring sets | Standard: 52-108-09-S (all seven) .010 over: 52-108-10-S |
| Oversize pistons (KT17, M18, MV16, MV18) | .010 over: 52-874-12-S .020 over: 52-874-14-S |
| Gaskets and seals | Overhaul gasket set: 25-755-37-S (replaces 52-755-10-S, 52-755-92-S, 52-755-93-S, 52-755-94-S) Head gasket: 52-041-20-S Intake valve stem seal: 52-032-13-S |
| Other parts | Connecting rod: 52-067-67-S Valve guide: 52-316-08-S Fuel pump: 52-559-01-S Points: 47-150-03-S, condenser: 52-147-01-S (KT17, KT19) Governor spring: 52-091-04-S (M18, M20) |
| Oversizes we carry | Pistons with rings for KT17, M18, MV16, MV18: .010 · .020 · .030 Ring sets for all seven: .010 · .020 |
Check these four things before you order
- Model and spec number. Both are on the blower housing decal. The twins are the KT17 and KT19, with the T. There is no Kohler K17 or K19. The single-cylinder M8, M10, M12, M14 and M16 are different engines and take different parts. M16 and MV16 are not the same engine. Where to find the tag
- Which piston group. The KT19, M20 and MV20 share the bore with the KT17, M18, MV16 and MV18, but they have a longer stroke and a different piston compression height. A bore measurement will not tell them apart. Go by the model number.
- Bore size. Kohler's service sizes on this family are true inch: .010, .020 and .030 over, not millimeters. If the block has been bored, measure the finished bore and order to what you measure.
- The old piston (ring-only orders). Kohler changed the piston and ring-land design during production without changing the model number. Pull a piston and look at it before ordering rings on their own. Piston-and-ring kits come matched, so you can skip this one.
Which kit do I need?
- Full rebuild, standard bore (KT17, M18, MV16, MV18): the 79.4mm rebuild kit with two pistons, rings, gasket set and seals.
- Rebuild with rods, pistons are good (all seven): the rebuild kit with two rods, two standard ring sets and the gasket set.
- Re-ring and reseal (all seven): the rebuild kit with two ring sets and the overhaul gasket set.
- Cylinders bored .010 over (KT17, M18, MV16, MV18): the .010 rebuild kit with pistons, rods and gaskets, or the .010 pistons with rings, single or pair.
- Cylinders bored .020 or .030 over (KT17, M18, MV16, MV18): the .020 or .030 pistons with rings, single or pair.
- New pistons, standard bore: the standard piston kit for the KT17 group, or the one for the KT19, M20 and MV20. One kit does one cylinder.
- Rings only, cylinders are in spec: standard ring sets (single or two-pack), or .010 and .020 ring two-packs for a bored engine.
- Service parts: the overhaul gasket kit, head gaskets, valve guides, intake stem seals, fuel pump kit, governor spring and the KT17/KT19 tune-up kit.
Before you order rings or pistons: Measure before ordering rings and pistons.