
Petrol Power. Professional Grade. Proven in Australian Conditions.
The Kohler Command PRO series is the benchmark for commercial small-engine performance. Used by OEM equipment manufacturers, agricultural contractors, hire companies, and trade professionals across Australia and worldwide, the Command PRO is not a consumer engine wearing commercial clothing — it is purpose-engineered from the ground up for sustained, heavy-duty operation in demanding environments.
Available here in two configurations: the CH270 (6.7hp) for compact, weight-sensitive applications, and the CH440 (14hp) for high-output, continuous-duty equipment. Both carry Kohler's 3-year commercial limited warranty and are CARB Tier 3 certified — the most stringent small-engine emissions standard available.
Most petrol engines in this category are built to a price. The Command PRO is built to a standard. Every feature listed below is standard equipment — not an option, not an upgrade tier. Here is what that means in practice.
| 🌬️ Quad-Clean™ Four-Stage Cyclonic Air Filtration Most engines in this power range use a single paper element or foam filter. Kohler's patented Quad-Clean™ system uses four separate stages of filtration working in sequence: Stage 1 — Mesh Screen: The intake mesh provides the first barrier, blocking large debris before it enters the air-cleaning chamber. Stage 2 — Cyclonic Chamber: Incoming air is spun at high speed in a cyclonic motion. Centrifugal force throws heavy contaminants — dust, chaff, fine particles — outward and away from the engine before they reach any filter media. Stage 3 — Foam Pre-Cleaner: A reusable, eco-friendly foam element captures mid-size particles that passed the cyclone stage. Washable and reusable — no disposable cartridge costs. Stage 4 — Metal-Mesh Reinforced Pleated Filter: The final stage traps the finest contaminants, ensuring only clean air enters the combustion chamber. The Quad-Clean assembly adds no meaningful weight or bulk over a conventional filter. It can be reconfigured in seconds — without tools — to recirculate warm engine air during cold-weather operation, dramatically improving cold starts and reducing warm-up time in winter. No other filter system in this class offers this capability as standard. |
🔩 Engineered for Commercial Durability The Command PRO's internal construction is specified to a level more commonly found in industrial engines costing significantly more: Steel-Forged & Hardened Crankshaft: Not cast — forged from steel and then hardened. Forging aligns the grain structure of the metal, producing a crankshaft that is significantly stronger and more fatigue-resistant than cast alternatives. This is the same manufacturing process used in automotive performance engines. Cast Iron Cylinder Liner: The cylinder bore is cast iron, not aluminium. Cast iron offers superior wear resistance, better oil retention on the bore walls, and dramatically longer service life under continuous load — particularly important for hydraulic pump drives running at sustained RPM. Stellite®-Faced Exhaust Valve: The exhaust valve face is coated with Stellite®, a cobalt-chromium alloy specifically engineered to resist the high-temperature, high-impact conditions at the exhaust seat. This is an aerospace and industrial specification material used here as standard. Dual Main Ball Bearings: Both ends of the crankshaft are supported by ball bearings — not plain bearings or bushes. This gives the Command PRO exceptional side-load capacity, critical for direct-drive pump and belt-drive applications where shaft loads are constant and high. Oil Sentry™ Low-Oil Shutdown: Monitors oil level continuously. If oil drops below the safe threshold, the engine shuts itself down automatically — before damage occurs. No sensor to reset, no operator intervention required. |
| ⛽ Fuel System — Three Filters, Zero Compromise The Command PRO runs a three-stage fuel filtration system as standard — a specification rarely seen outside of industrial equipment: Fill-Neck Filter: Filters fuel as it enters the tank, preventing contamination at the point of fill. In-Tank Filter: A second filter inside the tank catches any debris that may be present in stored fuel or that forms over time. Carburetor Inlet Filter: A final filter at the carburetor inlet ensures only clean fuel reaches the fuel metering system. Water Trap: A water-separating trap in the fuel system removes moisture from fuel — critical in humid Australian conditions where condensation in fuel tanks is a common cause of running problems and corrosion. Fuel Secure™ Auto Fuel Shutoff (recoil-start models): Automatically shuts off fuel when the engine stops. Prevents carburettor flooding, fuel gumming during storage, and fuel leaks if the unit is transported or tipped. A significant advantage for hire and mobile equipment. Large-Capacity Metal Fuel Tank: CH270 — 4.1L. CH440 — 7.3L. Metal construction resists UV degradation and fuel permeation, unlike plastic tanks. Extended capacity means fewer refills during long-shift operation. |
⚡ Ignition, Starting & Governor Electronic Ignition: Kohler's advanced electronic ignition system delivers precise spark timing across the full RPM range, reducing fuel consumption versus points-based or basic CDI ignition systems. No points to adjust, no condenser to replace — maintenance-free ignition for the life of the engine. Automatic Compression Release (ACR): At low cranking speeds — during a pull-start — the ACR mechanically reduces cylinder compression, making the engine significantly easier to pull over. Once the engine fires and reaches running speed, full compression is restored automatically. This allows a single person to pull-start the engine regardless of displacement or compression ratio. Indexable Easy-Pull™ Recoil Starter: The recoil starter handle can be repositioned to the most comfortable angle for the operator in any installation orientation — a practical feature on power pack builds where the engine may not be positioned at the ideal angle for straight-pull starting. Mechanical Governor: Maintains a set engine speed under varying load conditions. As load increases (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder reaching end-of-stroke), the governor opens the throttle to maintain RPM. As load drops, it closes the throttle to prevent over-speeding. Essential for pump-drive applications requiring consistent flow and pressure. High-Inertia Flywheel: A heavier flywheel stores more rotational energy, smoothing power delivery through the combustion cycle. Reduces speed variation (hunting) under fluctuating loads and contributes to the smooth, consistent output required for hydraulic applications. |
| 🔇 Noise & Vibration — Built-In, Not Bolted-On Noise and vibration reduction in the Command PRO is a system — every component contributes: Sound-Deadening Alloy Crankcase: The crankcase material and wall design absorb and dissipate mechanical vibration rather than transmitting it to the frame or operator. Large-Capacity Muffler with Heat Shield & Spark Arrestor: The oversized muffler reduces exhaust noise significantly. The heat shield protects surrounding components and the operator from exhaust temperatures. The spark arrestor is standard — meeting requirements for use in fire-risk environments including rural and forestry applications. Silenced Air Intake: The intake is acoustically treated to reduce induction noise — the high-frequency rushing sound produced by most small engines at working RPM. Balance Shaft (CH440 14hp only): The CH440's larger 429cc displacement produces higher reciprocating forces than the CH270. Kohler addresses this with a balance shaft — a counter-rotating shaft driven by the crankshaft that cancels out primary vibration forces. The result is a 14hp single-cylinder engine that runs with the smoothness typically associated with twin-cylinder configurations. |
🌿 Emissions & Environmental CARB Tier 3 Certified: Both the CH270 and CH440 are certified to California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tier 3 standards — the most stringent small-engine emissions regulations in the world. CARB Tier 3 certification also covers EPA compliance. If an engine meets CARB Tier 3, it exceeds EPA requirements by definition. This matters for operators on government contracts, national park work, or any application where emissions compliance is specified. Carbon Canister Fuel Cap: Replaces the standard vented fuel cap found on most small engines. The carbon canister captures fuel vapour that would otherwise vent to atmosphere during engine operation and storage — a key requirement for CARB Tier 3 compliance and a genuine environmental improvement over uncontrolled venting. Swirl-Induction Combustion Chamber: The combustion chamber geometry creates a swirling motion in the incoming air-fuel charge, improving mixing and combustion efficiency. More complete combustion means more power from each charge, lower fuel consumption, and reduced unburned hydrocarbon emissions — all from geometry, with no moving parts or electronic management required. |
| 🚜 Agriculture & Rural Water pumps, log splitters, post hole diggers, post drivers, grain augers, and mobile workshop equipment on farms and rural properties. The Fuel Secure™ shutoff and metal fuel tank make the Command PRO a natural fit for equipment that is transported, stored between seasons, or operated in remote locations far from service support. |
🏗️ Construction, Hire & Civil Compactors, concrete mixers, pressure washers, hydraulic tools, generators, and portable pumps on job sites where grid power is unavailable. The spark arrestor makes the Command PRO legal for use in fire-risk zones. The 3-year commercial warranty provides genuine protection for hire fleet investment. |
🔧 OEM Builds & Equipment Repowers Industry-standard mounting dimensions (92mm BCD / 3/4" shaft on CH270; 127mm BCD / 146mm spigot / 1" shaft on CH440) allow direct fitment to a wide range of existing equipment frames. Multiple shaft and PTO configurations available. The Command PRO is the repower standard for a reason — fitment without fabrication in most cases. |
| Kohler CH270 — 6.7hp Part No: CH270-0021 The CH270 is the compact member of the Command PRO family — 208cc displacement, 70mm bore, 54mm stroke, and 6.7hp gross (6.0hp net) at 3,600 RPM. Despite its compact footprint, it delivers 9.2 ft-lbs (12.4 Nm) peak torque at 2,800 RPM — enough for most single-function hydraulic pump drives, water pumps, and light-to-medium power equipment. Its 3/4" straight PTO shaft and 92mm engine mount BCD fit a wide range of standard pump and equipment flanges. At 17.5kg dry weight, the CH270 is light enough for portable equipment without sacrificing the durability features of the larger models.
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Kohler CH440 — 14hp Part No: CH440-3280 The CH440 is the flagship of the Command PRO horizontal-shaft range — 429cc displacement, 89mm bore, 69mm stroke, and 14hp gross (11.9hp net) at 3,600 RPM. It is the engine of choice for medium-to-heavy hydraulic power pack builds, larger pump drives, and demanding continuous-duty applications. The CH440 adds a balance shaft not found on the CH270 — a counter-rotating shaft that cancels primary vibration forces, giving this 14hp single-cylinder engine a smoothness that rivals some twin-cylinder configurations. At full load, peak torque reaches 18.5 ft-lbs (25.1 Nm) at 2,400 RPM — a broad, usable torque curve rather than a narrow peak. The 1" shaft, 127mm BCD, and 146mm spigot directly match the Yanmar L-Series diesel bell housing mounting spigot, making petrol-to-diesel repower straightforward with minimal modifications.
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| Specification | CH270 (6.7hp) | CH440 (14hp) |
|---|---|---|
| Part Number | CH270-0021 | CH440-3280 |
| Fuel Type | Unleaded Petrol | |
| Engine Type | 4-stroke, single cylinder, OHV slant, air-cooled, horizontal shaft, aluminium head & crankcase, cast iron cylinder liner | |
| Gross Power @ 3,600 RPM | 7.0hp / 5.2kW | 14hp / 10.5kW |
| Net Power @ 3,600 RPM | 6.0hp / 4.5kW | 11.9hp / 8.9kW |
| Displacement | 208cc (12.7 cu in) | 429cc (24.7 cu in) |
| Bore | 70mm (2.8") | 89mm (3.5") |
| Stroke | 54mm (2.1") | 69mm (2.7") |
| Peak Torque | 9.2 ft-lbs (12.4 Nm) @ 2,800 RPM | 18.5 ft-lbs (25.1 Nm) @ 2,400 RPM |
| Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 8:1 |
| Engine Mount BCD | 92mm | 127mm |
| Mounting Spigot | — | 146mm |
| Shaft Diameter | 3/4" (19.05mm) | 1" (25.4mm) |
| Key Size | 3/16" | 1/4" |
| Start Type | Pull / Electric (both available) | |
| Dry Weight (Recoil) | 17.5kg (38.7 lbs) | 34.7kg (76.5 lbs) |
| Oil Capacity | 0.6L | 1.1L |
| Fuel Capacity | 4.1L | 7.3L |
| Lubrication | Splash | |
| Balance Shaft | No | Yes — primary vibration cancellation |
| Dimensions L × W × H | 322 × 386 × 361mm | 380 × 452 × 443mm |
| Emissions Certification | CARB Tier 3 & EPA certified | |
| Warranty | 3-year commercial limited warranty | |
Every feature below is standard on both the CH270 and CH440 unless noted. No base/premium tiers. No optional upgrade packages required to access core reliability features.
Air System
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Engine Internals
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Full dimensional drawings — including top view, PTO view, shaft variations, valve cover view, and all mounting dimensions — are available in the official Kohler Command PRO specification document.
📄 Download Kohler CH270 & CH440 Service, Specifications & Drawings PDF
The CH270 (3/4" shaft, 92mm BCD, no spigot) suits light pump and equipment drives with standard SAE A flange mounting.
The CH440 (1" shaft, 127mm BCD, 146mm spigot) directly matches the bell housing footprint of the Yanmar L70N5 and L100N5 diesel engines — meaning a petrol-to-diesel repower on a CH440-based power pack requires minimal modification.
Multiple PTO shaft configurations are available from Kohler for specific OEM applications — contact us if your application requires a non-standard configuration.
Gross power ratings are per SAE J1940 small engine test code and represent output of the base engine without accessories fitted.
Net power is measured with standard engine accessories (air cleaner, exhaust system, charging, cooling, and fuel pump) fitted and represents realistic available shaft power.
Actual power output in your application will vary with altitude, ambient temperature, humidity, and the driven load.
For hydraulic pump sizing, use net power figures and apply appropriate service factors. Contact us for application-specific guidance.
These are heavy commercial engines — the CH270 is 17.5kg and the CH440 is 34.7kg. Freight is calculated based on your delivery location and is not included in the listed price. For remote area deliveries or to obtain a freight estimate before ordering, call us on (07) 5563 1982 or contact us online.
| Not Sure Which Engine Suits Your Application? Tell us the shaft size, BCD, mounting spigot, required horsepower, and what you're driving — and we'll confirm the right model and configuration. |
(07) 5563 1982 |
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