Kohler SV715-3002 Courage 22 gas leak

[sirmummy43]

This engine is in my 2011 LTX1046M mower and it has a very small gas leak that now seems to be coming from the KH-32-853-22-S carburetor bowl seal. There are 4 screws holding the bowl in place. I replaced the 2 gaskets on the air cleaner and manifold sides of the carb but that didn't do it. I can't find a rebuild kit for this that would include a gasket (O ring?), needle valve and seat so I'm guessing I have to replace the whole carburetor. I found one on Amazon for $35 but before I go that route I thought I better check with you people. Any thoughts?
Mike M

[ironman]

You'll get a whole lot of people from here that will preach that "aftermarket crap is no good",
"Chinese carbs are crap", "only buy OEM parts", etc, etc, etc.
But talk is cheap and your original carb at 300 bucks is not.
Personally, I've used quite a few "clone" carbs and never had any problems other than some mod work on the linkage connections.
If your pockets are deep, spend your money.
I would go the Amazon or eBay route and at worst you will have the parts you need to fix yours.

[sirmummy43]

Thanks;
Your last sentence makes perfect sense.

[sirmummy43]

When I park the tractor after cutting the lawn, the engine diesels for 5 or 10 seconds after I turn it off. Can this be related to the fuel leak? i.e., if the fuel shut off solenoid is faulty and doesn't cut off fuel flow could that allow the dieseling and afterwards, a small drip leak thru the bowl seal? Per your suggestion I think I may just transfer all of the internal parts and solenoid from the aftermarket carb to the original one if everything looks compatible. Not sure. This motor and carb has 466 hours on it.
Your thoughts on my faulty solenoid theory.
Mike

[ol'George]

I had a situation where the aftermarket carb was just a tad different inasmuch as the gaskets were different and had metric threads on the jets. so parts
don 't always swap.
But I have seen some that parts were interchangeable, so its a crap shoot.