Hi Mike, welcome to the WFM forums. Typically older Kohlers in good condition will start without choke when warm or hot. But engines with slightly lowered compression due to worn rings or valves, a weak starter, weak battery, or carburetor air leaks will usually need a little choke to start. The most common air leaks are around a worn throttle shaft or at the carb-to-block gasket. Throttle shaft repair kits are available to fix worn throttle shafts, and whenever a carburetor is removed the mounting flange should be checked for warpage and lapped if necessary. Most flange warpage or distortion is caused by over tightening the mounting bolts combined with an old gasket. A new gasket should always be used after a carburetor is removed.
Stan
Stan