Kohler Engine-Driven Pump Overview: CH395 and CH440 Platforms
Kohler pump sets are built around two primary engines: the CH395 (9.5 HP Command Pro) and the CH440 (14 HP Command Pro). The CH395 drives compact 2-inch and 3-inch pump heads capable of 3,200 to 6,200 GPH at 0-foot head with 20- to 25-foot maximum suction lift. The CH440 powers larger 3-inch and 4-inch centrifugal pump heads for agricultural and commercial-scale water movement exceeding 7,500 GPH. Both engines use overhead valve design with a 2-year commercial warranty, run on regular unleaded gasoline, and feature cast iron cylinder liners for extended service life under continuous duty conditions.
Kohler KP6200 Transfer Pump: The Flagship Residential Model
The KP6200 is Kohler's highest-output residential transfer pump: a 2-inch aluminum centrifugal pump head driven by the CH395 engine. At 0-foot head it moves 6,200 GPH (103 GPM). Performance drops to approximately 4,800 GPH at 10-foot head and 2,800 GPH at 20-foot head -- generous margins for most irrigation and emergency dewatering applications. Maximum suction lift is 25 feet at sea level. The pump primes in under 45 seconds with the built-in auto-prime mechanism. Setup takes 5 minutes: connect suction hose, connect discharge hose, add fuel, pull start. The entire unit weighs 57 pounds and rolls on pneumatic wheels for field portability.
Kohler KP3200 Compact Transfer Pump: Mid-Range Versatility
The KP3200 uses a smaller engine (Command Series CH270, 7 HP) paired with a 1.5-inch pump head rated at 3,200 GPH at 0-foot head. At 39 pounds it is genuinely portable for a single person. This model targets landscape contractors, property managers, and homeowners who need occasional high-volume water movement without the footprint of a full-size pump set. Applications: dewatering a flooded crawl space, filling an above-ground pool, irrigating a large garden, or draining a retention pond after heavy rain.
Trash Pump Capability: Moving Solids-Laden Water
Standard centrifugal pump impellers pass solids up to 1/8 inch -- fine for clear water but prone to clogging with leaves, mud, or debris. Kohler offers pump heads with semi-open impellers that pass solids up to 3/4 inch -- critical for emergency flood dewatering where the water carries sediment. The trash pump configuration is built on the same CH395 engine with a different pump housing and impeller; identify it by the larger discharge diameter and the "trash pump" designation in the model number. Flow is slightly lower than clear-water equivalents (5,500 GPH vs. 6,200 GPH) due to the open impeller design.
Choosing Between Kohler Pump Models
For emergency dewatering with debris: Kohler Trash Pump, 3" (CH395) -- 5,500 GPH, 3/4" solids pass. For large-volume clear water transfer: Kohler KP6200 (CH395) -- 6,200 GPH, fastest fill time. For portable single-operator use: Kohler KP3200 (CH270) -- 39 lbs, 3,200 GPH, 1.5" connections. All three are available through Kohler's dealer network and major equipment rental chains.